As part of the festivities leading up to the Carter County Museum’s 13th Annual Dino Shindig, Dinosaurs & Dark Skies invites visitors to Medicine Rocks State Park (Montana’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary) for a night of stargazing and fossil phosphorescence. Join us at the Sunset Loop and bring a folding chair and warm clothing. We will provide telescopes and red-light flashlights for wayfinding.
There will be a Bat Walk preceding the event at 9 p.m.
Co-hosted with Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks
A Pre-Dino Shindig Event: University of Montana Paleontology Collections Manager Kallie Moore leads a Collections Inventory Workshop 10 am-4 pm at the Museum’s Warehouse. In the afternoon, Museum of the Rockies Ashley Hall leads the Sister Museum SCIFriday Activities at the Museum.
The 13th Annual Shindig is July 26-27, 2025!
Named Montana’s Event of the Year by the Office of Tourism and Business Development, the Annual Dino Shindig takes place at the end of July. Visitors travel from all over the world to hear lectures from leading paleontologists, partake in kids activities, and dance the night away. Talks and kid’s activities on July 26 are $10 for adults and $7 for kids (under 13). They will go on sale in-person at the Carter County Museum on July 26.
The Annual Dino Shindig Auction includes a silent auction that runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Elizabeth Lutheran Church (where the talks are located). The Live Auction will begin after lunch at 1:30 p.m.
Extend your stay and join us on Thursday, July 24 at Medicine Rocks State Park for Sunset Yoga at 8 p.m. a Bat Walk at 9 p.m. and Dinosaurs & Dark Skies at 10 p.m. (Free admission).
As part of the Dino Shindig festivities join us at Medicine Rocks State Park for talks on prehistoric mammals of the Medicine Rocks, a microsite fossil activity, a hike through the park, and more!
Co-hosted with Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks
Join the Carter County Museum and the Montana Learning Center (Helena) at Medicine Rocks State Park for a stargazing program brought to you by Ryan Hannahoe.
Ryan first became involved with the Montana Learning Center in 2013 as a member of the summer camp staff. Eventually he joined the board of directors. Ryan has been Montana Learning Center’s executive director since the fall of 2016. Ryan worked as a science teacher in Clancy, Montana until 2019 went he went full time with the Center. Teaching science has been his profession for the past seven years.
Getting students and teachers excited about science is something Ryan enjoys. He feels lucky to have had several mentors throughout his career and now wants to share the knowledge and expertise he has with others. According to Ryan, “it is vitally important to inspire and mentor the next generation to become critical thinkers and learn about the natural world around them.”
Co-hosted with the Montana Learning Center and Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks
Each meeting features a lecture on a subject of paleontology, history, or art and a show & tell of new happenings at the museum. Free and open to the public. Full details on our website: https://cartercountymuseum.org/carter-county-geological-society-meetings
Each meeting features a lecture on a subject of paleontology, history, or art and a show & tell of new happenings at the museum. Free and open to the public. Full details on our website: https://cartercountymuseum.org/carter-county-geological-society-meetings
Each meeting features a lecture on a subject of paleontology, history, or art and a show & tell of new happenings at the museum. Free and open to the public. Full details on our website: https://cartercountymuseum.org/carter-county-geological-society-meetings
Each meeting features a lecture on a subject of paleontology, history, or art and a show & tell of new happenings at the museum. Free and open to the public. Full details on our website: https://cartercountymuseum.org/carter-county-geological-society-meetings