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Big Mike the watch dinosaur of the Museum of the Rockies

Do they still call it that? Bozone? Maybe not as the town shows many signs of gentrification. And moreover, “bozone” is also a sniglet—remember, a word that should be in the dictionary but isn’t. According to these folks it is “the substance surrounding stupid people that prevents bright ideas from penetrating.”

On the way back from Yellowstone Park we stopped in Bozeman to check out the Museum of the Rockies and have some lunch. Like all respectable fossils found in Montana this one has a name: he is called Big Mike. Though he looks fairly strong and their liability insurance is fairly good, the authorities request that you not climb on him.

Interior of dinosaur exhibit at Museum of the Rockies

We haven’t been here for awhile. The exhibits, especially the dinosaur parts have greatly improved. Entertaining for kids of all ages.

The T. Rex to the right probably has a name but I’ve forgotten it. Though dead for a long time, it is still the real thing rather than a plaster model.

I like the way they illustrate the finding and digging out of these remains. Fascinating. Plus they outline the scientific reasoning with the information at hand. If only our present day global warming freaks would do the same.

Sign at Baxter Hotel

To be entirely truthful we were hungry when we arrived in Bozeman, so the first place we went to was the Hotel Baxter because they used to have a pretty good restaurant there. That is now just a bar or pub I think they call it and there is a new place across the lobby called Ted’s Montana Grill. A little on the pricey side but very good food including some buffalo items that were certainly blogworthy. I had a bison meat loaf that was excellent. We had some good soup and our grandsons all enjoyed themselves on various burgers.

And their website is useful for more information. I just had a quick read. I didn’t realize it was a chain. This is the 57th. Very good food anyway. And of course I didn’t realize it had anything to do with Ted Turner, despite the sign. Honest. Mea Culpa.

I used to worry about running into Jane Fonda in Bozeman when she was his paramour du jour. What civil thing could I say?