Another stop on the Montana Dinosaur Trail is the Garfield County Museum which opened its doors in the fall of 1984. Located south of Fort Peck Lake, in an area referred to as the Hell Creek Formation, Garfield County has made extensive contributions to the field of paleontology. Did you know that some incredible remains have been found near the town of Jordan? Fish, mammals, lizards, crocodiles, dinosaurs, and marine reptiles have all been unearthed here.

If you are interested in dinosaurs, the Garfield County Museum is sure to please. It is home to a full -size triceratops cast, a tyrannosaurus rex skull, and a domed skull belonging to a stygimoloch. Perhaps one of the most interesting finds in Montana was that of the dueling dinosaurs. A t-rex and a triceratops were seemingly interlocked in a final battle to the death some 67-million years ago. Because uncovering a fully-intact, fossilized dinosaur is extremely rare, the discovery of two perfectly preserved creatures, especially those of the most iconic species, was extraordinary. And while the dueling dinos no longer live in Montana, a small replica can be seen in the museum.

But the dinosaurs aren’t the only interesting displays you’ll find at the Garfield County Museum. Over a hundred years ago, homesteaders made their way into the region, some having traveled thousands of miles to put down roots in a new land. The stories of these homesteaders are as important to Montana as the dinosaurs. Put yourself in the shoes of the pioneers by visiting a homestead cabin and an old blacksmith shop that have been built inside the museum. If you are more of a troublemaker, you can see what life was like as a criminal in the jailhouse. An old schoolhouse also stands on the property, taking you back to a time before a technology filled learning environment.

The Garfield County Museum is a wonderful stop to explore the rich history of fossils and homesteading to this corner of Montana.