Paleontology Digs with the Museum
Come one and come all!
The public is welcome to join us on actual paleontological digs throughout the summer.
Our mission with the digs is to help the scientific community understand our Earth’s history through the study of dinosaur, marine, and plant life.
Our digs are also meant as community events! We want everyone around the world to participate in our scientific studies, from learning to dig to cleaning fossils and museum curation. That means anyone, age eight and older, is invited to join!
You can help change history with each discovery made.
The Morrison Formation - Buffalo, Wyoming
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The formation weaves hundreds of miles through Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, and ranges as far south as New Mexico. The Morrison formation was formed 150 million years ago when the Jurassic’s Western Interior Seaway trapped many prehistoric species in relic flood plains. Over eons their remains were compressed into sedimentary layers of rock.
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Here we find Diplodocus, Camarasaurus, and Allosaurus.
Where We Dig
Mesa Verde - Sheridan County, WY
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The Mesaverde was deposited in a dynamic setting where marine and non-marine environments intermingled. It includes deltaic deposits, barrier islands, tidal flats, and coastal plains.
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Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Diplodocus
Hell Creek and Lance Formations - WY & MT
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The Hell Creek (Montana, North/South Dakota) and the Lance (Wyoming) formations are famous for fossil deposits from the Late Cretaceous Period. These two deposits are the subject of intense study, since the majority of the fossils were from 69 to 66 million years ago, right before the great extinction event that killed the dinosaurs.
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Tyrannosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, Certopsians, and much more!
Join us on a Dig
Joining a dig with the Natural History Museum of Wyoming is easy! We encourage adults and children 8 years or older to come out and dig with us. To join a dig, here are the steps:
Step 1: Download the Waiver
Click the button below to download the waiver.
Step 2: Read and Fill out the Waiver
We require a signed waiver per person or per group. If you are an individual, you just need to submit one copy. If you are a pair (a couple, parent and child, etc), you still submit one copy, but please fill it out for both parties. If you are a group, it’s still one copy, but every member needs to have an entry. We have provided a Word document to facilitate easy addition or removal of lines. The signed waiver holds your spot on the dig, and it’s important that you read and respond to each section.
Step 3: Submit the Waiver
We have provided a form on this page for you to submit your contact information and waiver. This form will go straight to our inbox and save your spot.
Step 4: Download the Packing List
Now it’s time to prepare for the dig! Download our comprehensive packing list, which covers clothing, food and drink, and any other essential items you may need.
It’s important that every member of your party has these items, so plan accordingly!
Submit the Waiver Here!
“Over the past few years, I’ve had amazing opportunities to participate in fossil digs offered through The Natural History Museum of Wyoming. I especially appreciate knowing that every time I unearth a fossil or artifact, I’m making a direct contribution to science. It’s a very rewarding feeling. It’s also rewarding and lots of fun hanging out with amateur and professional paleontologists who are all about digging for fossils. Whether you’re uncovering a specific dinosaur or you’re happy finding just about anything, it’s always an unique adventure. The crème de la crème of these adventures is that they take place in the greatest open air classroom ever, the big, beautiful out-of-doors.” - Sara Heywood