Norris Geyser Basin Museum

The Norris Geyser Basin Museum is worth the walk. There are lots of geysers in the area, and this museum provides a lot of information about the area in total. 

The museum itself is in a historic building, and when visiting during the winter, you may not find anyone there—but the guides in the summer are very nice. I was just there and got to tour the space and learn about the building along with the geyser itself.

The museum was built in the 1920s and 1930s and was considered a trailside museum. The goal from the start was to provide a way for people to stop in and learn about Yellowstone and the impressively beautiful area.

When you step into the space, there is a large open foyer. You will need to walk through it in order to get to the Norris Geyser Basin Museum itself. Then, there are a few rooms off the main area that will take you to more detailed displays, including one that has bird specimens. They also have lots of exhibits that help shed light on the geothermal activity of the area.

When I visited, there was a good number of people there. I spent about two hours at the museum and the basin, probably spending about 20 minutes of the two hours at the museum itself. It takes some time to walk through, but it really is an enjoyable experience. 

The Norris Geyser Basin Museum is a must-visit during your Yellowstone adventure! 

Fun Facts About Norris Geyser Basin Museum

It is interesting to learn about the importance of how the Norris Geyser Basin Museum was started. 

When people stopped using stagecoaches to come into the park and navigate it, they did not have a guide with them any longer (they had their own car). The museum was meant to create a way for people to stop in and learn, working as an early visitor’s center of sorts. While it looks older from the outside, it is actually still a very worthwhile location to visit.

In 1982, the museum, along with the basin, Madison Junction, and the Fishing Bridge, were all listed as National Historic Landmarks. I was able to visit all of these locations on my trip to the park, and they are all remarkable in their own right. 

Getting There

Getting to the Norris Geyser Basin Museum is easy to do. It is about a quarter of a mile from Norris Junction to the west. 

Take Grand Loop Road. It is then possible to access the museum and parking lot area. The museum is open as long as the basin is. That is typically from April through October though if there is bad weather, it may be closed down.