Many Bozeman residents and visitors have been to the Museum of the Rockies to view the collection of dinosaur fossils and marvel at the history of dinosaurs in Montana. They’ve also been to Butte and surrounding mining communities to learn how the excavation of minerals formed and transformed the state. Earth’s Treasures Fossil & Mineral Museum Gallery in downtown Bozeman contains both of these earthen masterpieces in their shop where children, adults, and serious collectors alike can see, touch, experience, and take home pieces of Montana history or sell some of their treasures. For the adventurous individual, you can even purchase mining equipment there to unearth some of your own treasures.
Patti Albrecht has owned and operated Earth’s Treasures since 1989. The museum gallery and mining store doubles as both a storefront for authentic fossils and rare jewelry and a place that holds educational events for children. You can hold a meteorite or an ancient and fossilized piece of the dinosaurs in your hands. You can view massive butterflies with shimmering wings on one side and camouflage on the other side on the bug wall, which children love. Dinosaur fossils as large as a human’s leg are on display to view up close and imagine what it was like to be around such creatures.
Each employee at the store tells stories of the treasures as they’ve heard and experienced them, so on multiple visits, you can hear multiple perspectives. They can also do a traveling show for larger groups at the public library. Each experience at the store can be as rare and different as the large variety of what is in the store. Montana-specific products have their own section for people to learn more about the local area and take a piece of Montana home. Earth’s Treasures can also ship anywhere in the U.S.
With so much to offer in education and learning, there’s something for everyone to take with them as a memory of a fun afternoon or an addition to their collection or artistic décor in their home. While some pieces of art and history have a higher price than others, there are plenty of lower budget items for children to purchase, with prices as low as 50 cents for fossils and minerals. Local Montana gems are set in a large variety of rings. You can even purchase part of a meteorite that has traveled through space and formed into a beautiful piece, to display with an accompanying story for friends and guests in your home.
Whether looking for a gift, wanting to have a fun family outing, or desiring to learn more about these historical finds, Earth’s Treasures has something for everyone. Their motto is “come as a customer, leave as a friend,” and they take that very seriously. If you are looking for something to do that is not your ordinary experience, where you can come away with a one-of-a-kind treasure, this is a great place to go.
