The Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University has announced a range of programs and events for February, focusing on topics from prehistoric ecosystems to Indigenous culture and regional wildlife.
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 5:30 p.m., MSU associate professor Madison Myers will present “Presenting Prehistory: The Impacts of Ancient Volcanic Eruptions on Climate and Ecosystems” in the Hager Auditorium. This lecture will examine how significant volcanic activity has historically influenced Earth’s environments. Attendance is free for museum members and $5 for non-members, with advance registration required.
Museum members can attend an exclusive preview of the new traveling exhibit “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors” on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit features live frogs and interactive displays.
Virtual Fossil Fridays will take place on Feb. 6, 20, and 27 at 9 a.m., offering Zoom-based interviews with international paleontologists and detailed looks at selected fossils. These sessions are open to the public at no cost.
A new planetarium show titled “Dark Biosphere” will run multiple times daily from Feb. 6 through April 30. Narrated by actor Viggo Mortensen, the show explores biodiversity deep beneath Earth’s surface. The show is included with membership or costs $6 per showing for non-members.
The public opening of “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors” is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring crafts and sensory activities related to frog biology, natural history, cultural importance, ecosystem roles, and conservation issues. The exhibit runs through Sept. 6.
On Friday, Feb. 13, Vincent Short will give a presentation about round dances aimed at schoolchildren before a public event exploring Aaniiih and Nakoda tribal traditions through song and dance in the Hager Auditorium.
A raptor meet-and-greet with birds from the Montana Raptor Conservation Center is set for Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m., also in the Hager Auditorium.
Author Leila Philip will deliver the Rosenberry-Donohue Lecture on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m., discussing her book “Beaverland,” which focuses on beavers’ role in shaping landscapes in the American West.
Details about event registration and pricing as well as a full calendar are available on the museum’s website (https://museumoftherockies.org).