University of Wyoming Geological Museum | Laramie

The University of Wyoming Geological Museum in Laramie is one of the state’s most fascinating scientific attractions, combining natural history, paleontology, and geology under one roof. Established in 1887, the museum has long served as both a public exhibition space and a research center, offering visitors a close look at Wyoming’s prehistoric past and the dramatic forces that shaped its rugged landscapes.

Setting and Atmosphere

Located on the University of Wyoming campus, the museum occupies a light-filled building that feels part research lab, part time capsule. As you step inside, you’re greeted by the towering skeleton of Big Al, the museum’s world-famous Allosaurus-one of the most complete fossil specimens of its kind ever discovered. The atmosphere is both educational and awe-inspiring, with children’s laughter echoing under the high ceilings and students taking notes beside glass cases of ancient fossils.

Exhibits and Collections

The museum’s exhibits span hundreds of millions of years, tracing Wyoming’s transformation from shallow seas and tropical forests to mountain uplifts and arid plains. Fossils of dinosaurs, marine reptiles, early mammals, and plant life are displayed alongside geological samples that reveal the region’s tectonic history. Visitors can study a full Triceratops skull, examine ammonites and petrified wood, and explore dioramas depicting life in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. One corner highlights the Laramie Basin’s sediment layers, showing how paleontologists read the earth’s story from stone.

Educational and Research Role

The museum is part of the University’s Department of Geology and Geophysics, and it continues to serve as a teaching and research hub for both students and scientists. Ongoing excavations across Wyoming contribute new specimens to the collection, many of which are prepared and studied on-site. Interactive displays and educational programs help visitors understand how geology connects to modern environmental science-linking fossils and rock formations to topics like energy resources and climate change.

Visitor Experience

The museum offers a self-guided experience enhanced by detailed displays and clear interpretive panels. Families, school groups, and casual travelers can spend an hour or an afternoon exploring the galleries. The highlight for most visitors remains Big Al, whose life story-complete with injuries, fossilized evidence of disease, and eventual death in a prehistoric floodplain-is told through vivid reconstruction. The museum also features a viewing window into the fossil preparation lab, allowing guests to watch scientists at work.

Legacy and Importance

For over a century, the University of Wyoming Geological Museum has inspired curiosity about the ancient world while supporting cutting-edge paleontological research. It bridges the past and present, reminding visitors that the ground beneath Wyoming’s windswept plains still holds the secrets of an age when dinosaurs roamed freely. Small in size but vast in wonder, it remains one of the state’s most engaging and educational attractions.