Dickinson Museum Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1983 |
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| Location | 188 Museum Dr. E, Dickinson, North Dakota, North Dakota, United States |
| Type | Dinosaur & Regional History Museum |
The Dickinson Museum Center is a cool place in Dickinson, North Dakota. It's like a big park with different museums and historic buildings. The center helps save and share the history of Dickinson, Stark County, and the whole southwest part of North Dakota. It sits on a 12-acre park and is run by the city and other groups.
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Discover Dinosaurs: Badlands Dinosaur Museum
This museum is packed with amazing things from the past. You can see thousands of rocks, minerals, and fossils here. One of the coolest things is a complete skeleton of a Triceratops dinosaur!
The museum also has awesome models of feathered dinosaurs. These models were made by a talented artist named Boban Filipovic.
This museum used to be called the "Dakota Dinosaur Museum." It was privately run from 1993 to 2015. Since December 2015, the City of Dickinson has owned and operated it. In 2017, it got its new name, the Badlands Dinosaur Museum.
Explore Local History: Joachim Regional Museum
The Joachim Regional Museum is all about local art and history. It tells the story of the area around Dickinson. This museum is managed by the Southwestern North Dakota Museum Foundation.
You can find permanent exhibits here, like a Western art gallery. There is also a special dollhouse exhibit. The building also has the Osborn Reading and Research Room. This room is a great place to learn more about local history.
Step Back in Time: Prairie Outpost Park
Prairie Outpost Park is a special outdoor area. It has five real historic buildings and five buildings that are copies of old ones. You can find this park just east of the main museum building.
Many groups use the park to share their history. These include groups that celebrate Czech, Scandinavian, and Germans from Russia heritage. They often host events in the park.
The historic buildings include an old house, a train depot, and a general store. There is also a church and a school from the past. The copied buildings include a print shop and a stone house like those built by German-Russians. You can also see a Czech town hall, a Scandinavian Stabbur, and a blacksmith shop.
Other cool things in the park are a picnic shelter called the Heritage Pavilion. There's also a veteran's chapel, an oil pumpjack, and a coal car. You can even see a Northern Pacific train caboose and a windmill.
Farm Life: Pioneer Machinery Hall
The Pioneer Machinery Hall focuses on how people used to farm and ranch. It shows the early history of farming in Stark County.
Inside, you'll see old threshing machines and tractors. There's also other farm equipment, both horse-drawn and mechanized. This museum is run by the Stark County Historical Society. It is located within the Prairie Outpost Park.
