DINOSAURS OF THE HELL CREEK MUSEUM

In the Badlands of South Dakota, just outside the small town of Belle Fourche—pronounced “Bell Foosh”—a new attraction has taken shape that every dinosaur enthusiast should see. The Dinosaurs of the Hell Creek Museum is part hands-on exhibit, part science center and part active research lab.

- BY JOSEPH “PALEOJOE” KCHODL

Only an hour north of Rapid City, the museum offers visitors of all ages the rare chance to experience real fossils from one of the most famous fossil beds in the world: the Hell Creek Formation. It’s a must-see destination for families visiting the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and other nearby landmarks.

THE DREAM BEHIND THE MUSEUM

The museum is the realization of a longtime dream shared by paleontologist Walter Stein and his wife, Heather. More than a decade in the making, their vision finally came to life after years of planning, starts and stops.

Its mission is to tell the story of the Hell Creek Formation and the creatures that lived there during the Late Cretaceous Period—between 92 and 66 million years ago. Over the years, staff, volunteers and the public have excavated and prepared hundreds of dinosaur bones and other fossils, now beautifully displayed in the museum’s galleries.

What began as a small, private collection locked away in storage has evolved into a public showcase believed to be the largest privately held collection of Hell Creek fossils on display anywhere. Visitors can see, and even touch, real bones that are 66 million years old.

THE HELL CREEK FORMATION