Entry No. 14 — the Bozeman file — filed under: oddities
Montana Entomology Collection (MTEC), Montana State University
Tucked inside MSU's Marsh Labs, this research collection holds an estimated two-million-plus curated invertebrate specimens, concentrated on the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region. Strengths include aquatic insects, beetles, flies, and native bees, stored in drawers alongside a specialist library and imaging stations. It's a working scientific archive rather than a tourist stop, so seeing the cabinets means arranging access in advance.
The story
You won't find signs or gift shops directing you to Room 50 of Marsh Labs on Montana State University’s campus. Tucked away at 1911 West Lincoln Street, the Montana Entomology Collection (MTEC) is the largest natural history archive in the state, housing over two million curated invertebrate specimens. While tourists head for standard regional exhibits, MTEC quietly hoards the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains' insect history across row upon row of cabinet drawers, specialized library shelves, and imaging stations.
The collection owes much of its sheer volume to relentless scientific fieldwork, including a landmark donation in 2013 when MSU ecologist Daniel Gustafson handed over more than one million specimens, books, and research papers collected across three decades. Under curator Michael Ivie and associate curators specializing in wild bees and aquatic fauna, the archive focuses heavily on regional beetles (Coleoptera), true flies (Diptera), and native bees (Apoidea). It functions as a meticulous catalog of the organisms that pollinate, feed, and decompose the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Because MTEC is an active university research archive rather than a public attraction, its cabinets remain locked away from unannounced walk-ins. Getting inside means reaching out to the research staff in advance to secure permission. You didn't hear it from us, but if you coordinate access ahead of time, you step past sterile campus corridors directly into drawers holding millions of pinned specimens from across the West.
What it's like
Arriving at Marsh Labs feels like walking into an active campus laboratory building rather than a visitor destination. Because drop-ins are strictly not accommodated, you must contact MTEC staff in advance to arrange access before making your way down to Room 50. Inside, the space is strictly functional and academic, filled with rows of specimen storage drawers, specialist reference texts, imaging stations, and researchers working quietly at microscopes. Don't look for interactive displays or souvenir stands, but do bring a concrete interest in regional bug taxonomy.
The move: Email ahead to arrange a behind-the-scenes look at drawers holding two million pinned insects.
📍 Before you go A university research collection, not a public museum; arrange a visit in advance by contacting MTEC staff — drop-ins are not accommodated.
- 📍 Bozeman
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Marsh Labs Room 50, 1911 W Lincoln St, Bozeman, MT 59717
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- American Computer & Robotics Museum — Located just half a mile away, this compact museum pairs MTEC's biological archives with four thousand years of computing and technology history.
- Earth's Treasures Fossil & Mineral Museum Gallery — Swap MTEC's scientific insect drawers for a downtown gallery space packed with global crystals, raw minerals, and ancient fossils.
- The Break Room — Located right across from campus, this low-key bar offers beer, wine, and an attached pizza game room after navigating university research labs.
- Gallatin History Museum — Housed inside a 1911 county jail, it trades insect taxonomy for local human history, original jail cells, and regional artifacts.
Good to know
Can I drop in to view the Montana Entomology Collection?
No, MTEC is a working university research collection and does not accommodate drop-ins; you must contact staff in advance to arrange access.
Where is the collection located on campus?
The collection is housed in Room 50 of Marsh Labs at 1911 W Lincoln St on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman.
What types of specimens are stored in the archive?
MTEC holds over two million curated invertebrate specimens, with primary strengths in aquatic insects, beetles, flies, and native bees from the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region.
Is there an admission fee or standard public operating hours?
There are no public operating hours or admission tickets; visits are arranged individually on a case-by-case basis through MTEC staff.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: mtent.org · Official site · gbif.org
last checked: 2026-06-24