Everything is real
Genuine fossils, tracks and mounts — a collection built over a lifetime, not ordered from a catalog.
Downtown Columbia, MS · Thu–Sat evenings · Adults $5, kids $3
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 every curious kid in Marion County — of any age.
A hidden gem, hiding in plain sight
5.0★
Visitor rating — Yelp & TripAdvisor
$5
Admission ages 6+ · kids 3–5 just $3
Thu–Sat
Open evenings, 5:30–9:30
2021
Opened on Second Street
Bring the kids Bring 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 purpose Hands-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 Friday night at 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 Street Right off Main Street
An evening downtown, 65 million 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.
Made for curious kids
Up-close exhibits and activity sheets turn a visit into a scavenger hunt.
Evenings, not just field trips
Open Thursday–Saturday 5:30–9:30 PM — the rare museum you can visit after supper.
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?
Thursday through Saturday evenings, 5:30–9:30 PM. Daytime visits for schools and groups are available by appointment — call (601) 736-4910.
How much does it cost?
$5 for ages 6 and up, $3 for children 3–5, and free for little ones under 3.
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 or field trips?
Yes — teachers, homeschool groups, libraries and nature clubs can schedule a daytime 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.
Open Thursday–Saturday evenings on Second Street. No reservations needed — just come on down.