Dickinson, North Dakota, isn’t a big town, but it sure has a big collection of dinosaurs and other archaeological finds.  The Dakota Dinosaur Museum, just off I-94, contains the impressive collection of one couple, Larry & Alice League, who have been collecting artifacts for over 40 years.  Exhibits in the museum include 11 full-scale dinosaurs, a real Triceratops skeleton, and one of the best Triceratops skulls ever found.

If you’re thinking of taking your kids to the Dakota Dino Museum, keep in mind that this is not an interactive museum.  Aside from a “please touch” table of items in the lobby and a small children’s reading area in the museum proper, this is a no-touching museum.  You won’t find a lot of fun here. The museum is a quiet place.

If, on the other hand, you have some real dinosaur lovers who really know their stuff and would be impressed by just seeing these finds from afar, it will be an ok experience for them.  The artifacts here are quite impressive, especially when considering that it is a private collection.

The gift shop has all kinds of dinosaur and fossil-themed items, and there are many things available for purchase that kids would love.  I made the mistake of letting my kids look around and had a hard time pulling them out of the store.

If you’re traveling through North Dakota and have dinosaur enthusiasts who are interested in seeing artifacts, this will be a good stop for you.  If you have younger children who prefer hands-on activities, this stop is probably best saved for another time.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS