A prehistoric adventure is coming to Belle Fourche with the upcoming grand opening of the Dinosaurs of the Hell Creek Museum. Located at 11324 US-212, the museum opens its doors to the public on May 23 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. The grand opening will launch a new tourist destination for the region that combines science, education, and a lot of fun.
Owned and operated by paleontologist Walter Stein and his wife, Heather Stein, the Dinosaurs of the Hell Creek Museum showcases an extraordinary collection of fossils discovered right here in the local area. The Steins moved to Belle Fourche in 2005, when Walter decided to go solo after spending several years working in the field for other museums and institutions. Now, he manages fossil excavations on more than 70,000 acres of private land across seven ranches in western South Dakota.
“This is one of the best places in the world to find fossils,” Stein said. “Every year we go out in the field, and every year we find new things. It’s not a question of if you’re going to find something, it’s a question of what are you going to find? How much is there, how rare is it? Is it something that’s commercial? Is it something that’s science grade? There’s always something out there.” Belle Fourche is located in a unique geological area called the Hell Creek Formation, which spans four states including South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. This formation is 66 million years old and contains dinosaur fossils as well as fossils from many different types of animals like birds, fish, turtles, alligators, and more.
Inside the museum, visitors will find real fossil specimens, scientific-grade casts, and interactive exhibits. One of the featured fossils is a rare short-necked plesiosaur discovered just north of town on the Clarkson Ranch, four miles from the museum. Nicknamed “Doc” in honor of longtime local veterinarian Dr. Maurice Hanify, the specimen is approximately 92 million years old and about 40% complete; one of its flippers, made up of 80 bones, is entirely intact.
The area’s rich geology is well-known by academics and paleontologists all over the country. “They drive through Belle Fourche, they go to the fossil beds up here, and most of that stuff ends up somewhere else. It winds up in the Smithsonian or New York or Chicago or different places,” said Stein. “So part of the impetus for building this museum is so that we can maybe keep some more of the stuff here.”
Once the museum opens, guests will be able to go on dinosaur digs, tour a working fossil prep lab, and view original dinosaur skeletons as they are uncovered, prepared, and mounted. The museum has plenty of attractions for kids and adults alike, including an augmented reality sand table, button-activated audio panels, and life-sized dinosaur animatronics. There will even be a science corner where kids can look at fossils through microscopes.
The museum also plans to host special events throughout the year, including educational festivals and outdoor programs. For the grand opening, there will be guest lectures from academic paleontologists, presentations by staff, food trucks, and a silent auction.
Admission is planned to be $12 per person or $40 for a family of four, with rates of $8 per student for school visits.
Whether you’re a science enthusiast, a family looking for a fun day out, or a student with a curiosity about the prehistoric past, this new museum promises to be an unforgettable experience.
For more information, visit www.dinosaursofthehellcreekmuseum.org.
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