Everything is real
Genuine fossils, tracks and mounts — a collection built over a lifetime, not ordered from a catalog.
Downtown Columbia, MS · Open by appointment · Groups $5 per person
Take a walk on the wild side.
Real fossils, real wildlife — Downtown Columbia.
Our mission
Why the museum exists
To bring the wonder of the Natural World that surrounds us and the science that seeks to understand it to children and young people of all ages throughout our rural communities. To bring unique hands-on opportunities to explore and learn to people without easy access to the museums of big cities. The museum keeps its wonders close, its prices low, and its door open to everyone of every age.
A hidden gem, hiding in plain sight
5.0★
Visitor rating — Yelp & TripAdvisor
$5
Per person for groups · families and individuals by donation
By appointment
Call (601) 736-4910 to arrange your visit
2021
Opened on Second Street, Columbia, Mississippi
Bring the kidsBring the kids
Warning: contains one very large bear.
Ask any kid who's been — the Monster Bear is the photo everybody takes home. Displays sit at kid height, activity sheets turn the visit into a scavenger hunt, and little explorers get in for $3 (under 3 free).
- Meet the Monster Bear, all the way up
- Scavenger-hunt activity sheets at the door
- Real dinosaur tracks and a mastodon tusk bigger than they are
Hands-on, on purposeHands-on, on purpose
Where the bison says “please pet me.”
Most museums say don't touch. Ours hangs a sign on the bison that says PLEASE PET ME — because curiosity works better up close. Kids read the exhibit cards, work their scavenger sheets, and yes, pet the bison on the way out.
A special time in the museum
This is what it looks like when it clicks.
Twenty seconds inside the Southern Woods — an alligator an arm's length away, and a little girl who won't stop pointing.
Right off Main StreetRight off Main Street
A special visit, millions of years in the making.
Look for the painted wall on Second Street — the whole building is the sign. Inside is a lifetime's collection of fossils, skulls, tracks and mounted wildlife — gathered piece by piece and shared with Columbia by the family that built it.
- Real specimens, not replicas
- Kid-height displays and activity sheets
- An easy add-on to dinner downtown
Why folks love it
Small museum. Big wild.
Seniors love it — still kid friendly
Up-close exhibits and activity sheets work just as well for a senior group as for a class of second-graders.
Checked, not claimed
Visitors rate it 5.0 out of 5
5.0★ on Yelp (13 reviews) · 5.0★ on TripAdvisor — visitors call it "a hidden gem" with "an awesome collection of fossils, artifacts, and animals."
Been in? Leave a review on Yelp or say hi on Facebook.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
When is the museum open?
Presently by appointment only. Please feel free to call to arrange your visit — (601) 736-4910.
How much does it cost for classes and groups?
It is $5 per person. However, we are a nonprofit, so contributions of whatever you think is fair are very much welcome.
Where are you located?
236 Second Street in Downtown Columbia, Mississippi — just off Main Street. Look for the museum sign with the arrow.
Is it good for young kids?
Very. Exhibits sit at kid height, the animals are life-sized, and activity sheets make the visit a scavenger hunt. Most kids head straight for the dinosaur tracks and the Monster Bear.
Do you take school groups, field trips or senior citizens groups?
Yes — teachers, homeschool groups, libraries, nature clubs and senior citizens groups can all schedule a tour by appointment. See the For Teachers page for how a class visit runs, or call (601) 736-4910.
What will we see inside?
A real mosasaur fossil, dinosaur tracks, petrified wood, massive ammonites, elephant tusks, the life-sized Monster Bear, and immersive wildlife scenes from Mississippi to the savannah to the tundra.
Ready when you are
Come take your walk on the wild side.
On Second Street in Downtown Columbia, open by appointment — call (601) 736-4910 and we will set a time.