MBMG Mineral Museum
MBMG Mineral Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
100 reviews
Excellent
61
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36
Average
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Bobbiann H
Orlando, FL50 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
It isn't what you picture when you hear museum. It's really just a large open room. That being said, it's easy enough to get around to see each display. It is also free. The only thing you are giving is your time.
Parking is a nightmare. There are like five spots and I had to try four times throughout the day to get one...clearly it isn't actually being regulated as not a soul was in the museum when I finally was able to score the one open spot. All other parking around it is by permit.
The specimens are pretty to look at, but after the build-up of trying to get in, I wish I had skipped it, so I had enough time to visit other things
Parking is a nightmare. There are like five spots and I had to try four times throughout the day to get one...clearly it isn't actually being regulated as not a soul was in the museum when I finally was able to score the one open spot. All other parking around it is by permit.
The specimens are pretty to look at, but after the build-up of trying to get in, I wish I had skipped it, so I had enough time to visit other things
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
denver60
Denver, CO1,552 contributions
Jul 2012 • Solo
The mineral museum, located on the Montana Tech campus is an interesting & informative way to spend an hour in Butte (a historic mining city which was at one time the copper capital of the world). The museum (open 9 to 5 during the summer) is free (with donations accepted).
Check-out the Earthquake Studies area.... you can see active seismographs recording data in real time.
Check-out the Earthquake Studies area.... you can see active seismographs recording data in real time.
Written 13 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
realist1Montana
montana76 contributions
Amazing variety and sizes, really learned a lot here. Have a whole new appreciation of the ground I now walk on. Bring with some stones you may not know what they are...guarantee you will know by the time you leave. You also can get books on what to look for as you play around in this beautiful state Montana! Amazing, thought I'd be bored!
Written 13 February 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
explorer-0001
Washington DC, DC68 contributions
Apr 2011
The museum is a must do while in Butte. I was surprised to find a very nice and large collection! The minerals were neatly displayed and organized with clear tags. There were plenty of local minerals on display as well as some exotic ones from around the world. My favorite was the meteorite collection.
I was lucky enough to meet with someone who worked in the museum and learned some neat things about some of the minerals and where the minerals came from.
A stop at the gift shop is a must as well. The shop offers more than just the usual tourist postcards. You can get some cool rocks at very reasonable prices - as low as $1!!! I grabbed some cool "rocks" from the gift shop.
As for parking, there are plenty of parking outside.
I was lucky enough to meet with someone who worked in the museum and learned some neat things about some of the minerals and where the minerals came from.
A stop at the gift shop is a must as well. The shop offers more than just the usual tourist postcards. You can get some cool rocks at very reasonable prices - as low as $1!!! I grabbed some cool "rocks" from the gift shop.
As for parking, there are plenty of parking outside.
Written 7 April 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlisonandColin
Westerham, UK241 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
The museum has an extensive collection of minerals and crystals together with clear, interesting information. The dark room where you can see fluorescent minerals is especially engaging.
Written 11 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter K
Hurricane, UT882 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
We visited the museum on 6/16/16. It has a great assortment of minerals, better I thought than the Smithsonian in DC. There is no fee for the museum but if you can make a donation please do so.
We spent about 2 hours and easily could have spent another hour. Be sure and check out the fluorescent minerals display.
A tip for finding the museum: coming from historic downtown Butte,after you enter MT's campus drive by the student Union building and the turn to the museum is on your left ( there is a sign) go up the drive and bear to your left and you'll see the parking area
The museum is 2 buildings down from the parking area and located on the second floor of that building. There is an elevator if you need it.
We spent about 2 hours and easily could have spent another hour. Be sure and check out the fluorescent minerals display.
A tip for finding the museum: coming from historic downtown Butte,after you enter MT's campus drive by the student Union building and the turn to the museum is on your left ( there is a sign) go up the drive and bear to your left and you'll see the parking area
The museum is 2 buildings down from the parking area and located on the second floor of that building. There is an elevator if you need it.
Written 16 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HRHKay
Seattle, WA47 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
This is well worth a few hours of your time. Academic and informative, but very accessible to those non-geologists among us. Fascinating displays, well-done commentary, organized but dazzling. Very helpful gentleman in the gift store, where the selection is thoughtful and well done. And the view walking from the parking area to the building is spectacular. On the campus of Montana State University, formerly the Montana School of Mines, I believe. Will visit again!
Written 5 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marshaf740
Helena, MT37 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
It was a fun adventure with the family. The beginning did not look that good, however, when you got inside, you become very involved in what was going on. Having the different stones was awesome, and when you turned off the lights, it was breathtaking. Great place to bring the kiddos.
Written 6 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LindaSulzdorf
Strawberry Point, IA8 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
If you enjoy ROCKS and minerals, you will love this museum. It's free--and is located up on the Montana Tech Campus. My daughter and i were there for a couple of hours.....and we could have spent more time without becoming bored with the exhibits. We learn so much about the geography of our town, and it's history. This attraction is well worth your time.
Written 8 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcia B
47 contributions
Jul 2012 • Friends
This place was amazing. I thought it would just be a bunch of rocks...which it was but they were not the normal kind. There were so many different stones that were really cool. Any age would like this place. There is even a room where the rocks/stones/minerals glow in the dark. Very cool.
Written 10 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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