A Yellowstone Science Museum: Investing in Our Future

As your Independent Yellowstone County Commissioner, I believe our responsibility isn’t just to solve today’s problems. It’s to create tomorrow’s opportunities.

I want Yellowstone County to become known as Montana’s County of Discovery. A place where a child from a small Montana town can touch a dinosaur fossil, operate a robotic arm, explore the Yellowstone supervolcano, climb inside a life-flight helicopter, discover how wheat becomes bread, or learn how electricity powers our communities, all in one unforgettable day.

Great communities don’t happen by accident. They happen because someone is willing to imagine what doesn’t exist yet and bring people together to build it.

The Yellowstone Discovery District would be more than a project. It would be a legacy.

Why Yellowstone County?

Yellowstone County already has many of the ingredients.

  • Interstate 90

  • Billings Logan International Airport

  • Hotels

  • Restaurants

  • Medical corridor

  • Energy companies

  • Agriculture leaders

  • A growing tourism industry

We have the opportunity to become Montana’s premier destination for science, innovation, and family learning.

Imagine creating a place where education, entertainment, tourism, and innovation all come together. A district that families plan vacations around and students remember for a lifetime.

At its heart would be the Yellowstone Science Museum, but surrounding it could be experiences that grow over time as public and private investment comes together.

The museum would feature four cornerstone themes:

  • Agriculture – Showcasing the technology and innovation that feed our communities.

  • Medical Innovation – Highlighting the incredible healthcare professionals and research happening in our region.

  • Montana Energy – Exploring both traditional and emerging energy industries that power our economy.

  • The Yellowstone Ecosystem – Celebrating the unique geology, wildlife, water, and natural resources that define our home.

  • A hands-on museum celebrating what makes our region unique:

    • Agriculture

    • Medical Innovation

    • Montana Energy

    • Yellowstone Ecosystem

    • Space & Technology

    • Kids Discovery Zone

    • Traveling Exhibits

  • Add complementary attractions such as:

    • Outdoor science park

    • Montana native botanical gardens

    • Planetarium

    • Giant outdoor dinosaur dig

    • Innovation Makerspace

    • STEM classrooms

    • Outdoor amphitheater

  • Connect with private investment to create:

    • Family hotel

    • Restaurants

    • Retail

    • Conference center

    • Adventure playground

    • Seasonal events

    • Science festivals

    • Holiday light displays

    Suddenly it becomes a destination that draws people from Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Idaho, and Canada.

The Economic Impact

The goal isn’t simply to build a museum.

The goal is to create an economic engine that generates:

  • Tourism dollars

  • Hotel stays

  • Restaurant traffic

  • Retail spending

  • Educational partnerships

  • Corporate sponsorships

  • High-quality jobs

  • National recognition

Every visitor who stays overnight spends money throughout our community.

The Yellowstone Discovery District