The University of Wyoming Geological Museum, in the east wing of the S.H. Knight Geology Building, exhibits the story of ancient Wyoming. Highlight exhibits include: a fully mounted skeleton of the well-known dinosaur Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus); a mounted skeletal cast of the world-renowned “Big Al” the Allosaurus; a 50-million-year-old garfish from Wyoming’s Green River Formation (one of the largest complete freshwater fossil fish on display in the world); casts of skulls of Wyoming’s state dinosaur, Triceratops; and its contemporary, Tyrannosaurus rex; mounted skeletons of Miocene rhinos and camels; an interactive augmented reality sandbox, a fossil prep-lab, and a fluorescent mineral room, featuring specimens from Wyoming and the world. The museum maintains important display collections (particularly vertebrate and invertebrate fossils) that are available for study by students, as well as scientists from other institutions. The museum provides unique opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to pursue research and display projects in Wyoming paleontology, and for students minoring in museum studies to gain valuable experience with natural history museums and collections.
The University of Wyoming Geological Museum in Laramie supports academic programs, scientific research and public education. It is overseen by the Department of Geology and Geophysics in the College of Arts and Sciences. The UW Geological Museum features a variety of displays to illustrate Wyoming's past environments, highlighted by a 75-foot Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus) skeleton that dominates the museum's exhibit hall. Another highlight is "Big Al," a display of the most complete Allosaurus fossil ever found.
Samuel H. "Doc" Knight, the legendary Wyoming geologist, was an early museum curator. Knight painted one of the museum's large murals and constructed a campus landmark, the large, copper-plated Tyrannosaurus rex that stands outside the museum.
For more information, visit the UW Geological Museum website.
