Entry No. 3 — the Missoula file — filed under: oddities
Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum
Tucked inside a University of Montana science building, this 1897-founded museum holds roughly 22,000 preserved specimens: mounted grizzly bears and bison, plus drawers and shelves of claws, clavicles, skulls and study skins from pelicans to kangaroos to hummingbirds. It is a working research collection, not a polished public gallery, so a visit means getting walked through the cabinets by staff. Tours run 20 to 60 minutes for groups of up to 30, ages 8 and up.
The story
Tucked inside Room 104 of the Health Science building on the University of Montana campus, this collection has been quietly accumulating bone and hide since 1897. Named for long-time curator Philip L. Wright, it was built as an active scientific vault rather than a polished display hall. You won't find polished interactive screens, velvet ropes, or gift shop trinkets here. Instead, long aisles of industrial metal drawers and high wooden shelves house roughly 22,000 preserved vertebrate specimens.
Slide open a drawer alongside the staff guide and you are looking directly into the mechanics of animal anatomy. The inventory spans full mounts of Montana staples like grizzly bears and bison down to metal trays filled with study skins—pelicans, kangaroos, and hummingbirds. Shelves hold cataloged claws, clavicles, and skulls, offering an unvarnished look at biological diversity recorded across more than a century.
What it's like
This is a working university research facility, so you cannot just wander in off Campus Drive. Access requires booking a tour in advance online or by phone. A staff member will meet your group—capped at 30 people, ages eight and up—and guide you through the cabinet rows for 20 to 60 minutes. It feels less like visiting a standard museum and more like gaining behind-the-scenes clearance to an academic archive.
The move: Email ahead to book a small-group tour, then wander the specimen cabinets together comparing a grizzly skull to a hummingbird's.
📍 Before you go Tours are by appointment only via a form or by calling (406) 243-4743; ages 8+, groups capped at 30.
- 📍 Missoula
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: DBS Health Science 104, 32 Campus Drive, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- UM Star Gazing Room (Planetarium) — Stay right on campus after your specimen tour to catch a Friday evening star show inside a tiny, 28-seat planetarium.
- Reinhardt Peony Garden on the 'M' Trail — Head half a mile east to the base of Mount Sentinel to step out of the indoor scientific vaults and into a quiet hillside garden.
- Flock Taxidermy — Pair the university's historical research skins with a visit to a local studio specializing in museum-quality artistic taxidermy.
- GILD Brewing (Basement Arcade) — Head down to the nearby Hip Strip after your tour for a draft beer and pinball in a stone-walled basement.
Good to know
How do I book a tour?
Visits are strictly by appointment. You must submit a request form through the university website or call (406) 243-4743 ahead of your trip.
Are there age or group size restrictions?
Yes. Tours are open to visitors ages 8 and older, and group sizes are strictly limited to a maximum of 30 people.
Where is the museum located on campus?
It is located in Room 104 of the Health Science building at 32 Campus Drive on the University of Montana campus in Missoula.
How long does a visit take?
Guided tours run anywhere between 20 and 60 minutes depending on your group's questions and pace.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: umt.edu · nbcmontana.com · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-06-24