Greater Yellowstone Adventure Exhibits at the Draper Natural History Museum

Draper Natural History Museum exhibits focus on the ecology and natural history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Collectively, the Draper Museum exhibit galleries are presented as the “Greater Yellowstone Adventure,” which includes three, large, interconnected and immersive galleries: Expedition Trailhead, Alpine-to-Plains Trail, plus the exhibition Monarch of the Skies: The Golden Eagle in Greater Yellowstone and the American West.

Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and even smells of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in our highly interactive exhibits. Around every corner is a new discovery.

Expedition Trailhead

 Pick up your Adventure passport at the Trailhead Bulletin Board, and stamp it at six stations on your Greater Yellowstone Adventure. At the Trailhead, explore two rustic cabins, the Harold and Roberta Byrd Naturalist Cabin and the Steven Seay Geology Cabin.

The Harold and Roberta Byrd Naturalist’s Cabin houses a naturalist’s study with reading material and an orientation video to prepare you for your Greater Yellowstone adventure.

In the Steven Seay Geology Cabin you will learn about the dramatic geological processes that continue to shape the Greater Yellowstone region geology and geologic processes of the Greater Yellowstone area. You can also explore the geological samples on the geologic time column and in the specimen drawers. You can also find an informative video on the Yellowstone Super Volcano!

Alpine-to-Plains Trail

Where the Expedition Trailhead ends, your journey along the Alpine-to-Plains Trail begins. 

Winding through a 90-foot-tall grand rotunda topped with a changing Yellowstone sky, you will descend along a gently sloping path through Alpine, Mountain Forest, Mountain Meadow, and Plains/Basin environment exhibits.  Each environment includes the sights, sounds, and smells you might encounter in a hike through the same environment in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. From the top of the grand rotunda, you overlook a colorful tile mosaic map of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Measuring thirty feet in diameter, the mosaic provides a rare perspective of one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. Once you descend to the bottom, you can walk over the map and trace the route of your travels, or have your family or friends photograph you from the top as a unique record of your travels.

Monarch of the Skies

Monarch of the Skies is an interdisciplinary museum exhibition that integrates science, visual arts, and Native American cultural associations to explore the challenges, opportunities, and relevance of conserving wildlife in rapidly changing, multiple use landscapes across the American West.

The exhibition’s focus on nesting ecology and movements of the iconic Golden Eagle helps showcase how and why alteration of large tracts of landscape carries important ecological, economic, and cultural implications. Our presentation emphasizes sound scientific inquiry and multiple stakeholder involvement as ways of effectively addressing conservation challenges in our rapidly changing world.

Discovery Laboratory: Public Viewing of the Draper Museum’s Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Specimen Preparation Laboratory, Research Center, and Classroom

This is a working laboratory, where staff and volunteers prepare specimens and digital collections for research, exhibits, and educational programs. Take a peek to find out what happens behind the scenes of a natural history museum.

The lab is open by appointment for public tours. To schedule a tour please contact e-mail Corey Anco.