Trailside Museum of Natural History at Fort Robinson State Park

The Trailside Museum of Natural History occupies a restored 1904 building that once served the Army post as a theater and gymnasium. The collection includes exhibits on Nebraska's geological past, fossils, and animals that have shaped the region.

The building was constructed in 1904 as a theater and gymnasium for Fort Robinson and served the Army until 1955. The University of Nebraska then took over the structure and transformed it into a museum.

The museum connects visitors to Nebraska's natural world through exhibits about regional wildlife and fossils that shaped the landscape. These displays show how the land and its creatures have always been part of local life.

To visit the museum, you will need a park permit to access the state park grounds. The building has a gift shop with science books, minerals, educational toys, and local souvenirs.

The museum displays two massive mammoth skeletons with tusks locked together, discovered near this location and appearing as if the animals froze mid-combat. This exhibit tells a gripping story from the region's ancient past that visitors rarely forget.

Location: Dawes County

GPS coordinates: 42.66655,-103.46647

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:46