America's Best Fossil Sites and Natural History Museums
There are dozens of major paleontology sites and natural history museums across America — from Smithsonian-scale collections to active dig sites where you can watch real bones come out of the ground. This passport tracks 29 of the best.
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History | Washington, DC | Largest U.S. fossil collection |
| American Museum of Natural History | New York, NY | Iconic T-Rex; first dinosaur halls |
| Peabody Museum of Natural History | New Haven, CT | Yale; Marsh's original collection |
| Carnegie Museum of Natural History | Pittsburgh, PA | Diplodocus carnegii original |
| North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences | Raleigh, NC | Acro the Acrocanthosaurus |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Cleveland, OH | Dunkleosteus and Lucy |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Field Museum of Natural History | Chicago, IL | SUE the T-Rex |
| Sternberg Museum of Natural History | Hays, KS | 'Fish-within-a-fish' fossil |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science | Houston, TX | Morian Hall of Paleontology |
| Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History | Norman, OK | Apatosaurus mount |
| Museum of the Earth | Ithaca, NY | Paleontological Research Institution |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Museum of Nature & Science | Denver, CO | Prehistoric Journey hall |
| Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County | Los Angeles, CA | Dinosaur Hall |
| Museum of the Rockies | Bozeman, MT | Jack Horner's home museum |
| UC Museum of Paleontology | Berkeley, CA | Berkeley; T. rex 'Wankel' |
| Utah Museum of Natural History (NHMU) | Salt Lake City, UT | Past Worlds gallery |
| San Diego Natural History Museum | San Diego, CA | Local marine fossils |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Dinosaur Center | Thermopolis, WY | Active Jurassic dig site |
| Dinosaur National Monument | Jensen, UT | Wall of bones in situ |
| Ghost Ranch | Abiquiu, NM | Coelophysis quarry |
| Petrified Forest National Park | Holbrook, AZ | Triassic fossils + petrified wood |
| Hell Creek Formation | Eastern Montana | Source of SUE, Stan, more T-Rexes |
| Dinosaur Ridge | Morrison, CO | Iguanodon tracks visible in bedrock |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| La Brea Tar Pits | Los Angeles, CA | Ice Age fossils still emerging |
| Dinosaur Valley State Park | Glen Rose, TX | Sauropod and theropod tracks |
| Dinosaur State Park | Rocky Hill, CT | Connecticut Valley dinosaur tracks |
| Mammoth Site | Hot Springs, SD | Active in-situ Columbian mammoth dig |
| Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park | Austin, NV | Largest known ichthyosaur fossils |
| Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument | Florissant, CO | Eocene insect & plant fossils, petrified redwoods |
Turn this list into a keepsake. The Triptyka Dinosaur & Paleontology Passport is a printable PDF with a curated checklist, a detail page for each stop, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
Get the Printable Passport — $9.99 on Etsy →Best Museum Tickets — Pre-Booked: American Museum of Natural History, Field Museum, Smithsonian — all use timed-entry tickets during peak (June-Aug, school breaks). Book 2-3 weeks ahead. Smithsonian is FREE but requires a free timed-entry pass on most weekends. Dig + Field Experiences: Real fossil-finding experiences: Wyoming Dinosaur Center ($150-300 for a half-day dig); Royal Tyrrell ($75-150 paleontology programs); Dinosaur National Monument (free wall-of-bones viewing). Book 3-6 weeks ahead for summer programs. Travel With Kids: Most natural-history museums offer Junior Paleontologist programs (free books + stickers + activities). Royal Tyrrell, AMNH, Field Museum, and Houston Museum all have dedicated kid-explorer paths. Plan 3-5 hours per museum. Photography Rules: Most museums permit non-flash photography. Tripods often require permission (Smithsonian permits no tripods on weekends). Drone shots over fossil quarries are universally banned. Always check site rules before lifting your camera.
This checklist spans the country. Standouts include Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, American Museum of Natural History, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, among others — each chosen as a memorable stop worth the trip.
Yes. The Triptyka Dinosaur & Paleontology Passport is an instant printable PDF — a curated checklist grouped by region, a detail page for each stop, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
It depends on the site and the season. Many are best in spring or fall, and hours change through the year — always confirm opening times and admission before you go.
A printable dinosaur & paleontology passport makes it easy — check off each one as you visit, log the date and your notes, and watch your progress add up.