Monte L. Bean Museum- An Amazing, Free Museum

When I was in 3rd grade we went on a field trip one spring day to Timpanogos Cave. When we arrived we were told the trail wasn't open due to bad weather. What do you do with a hundred disappointed grade school kids when the field trip is canceled? Fortunately, one of our teachers (a student teacher from BYU as it so happened) suggested that we go to BYU and visit the Bean Museum.

I am as fascinated today by the Monte L. Bean Museum as I was thirty years ago. This is a life science museum which has vast collections from the natural world of plants and animals. The exhibits are open to the public and include: birds (whooping cranes and pheasants and waterfowl of the world), a rotating exhibit from their massive insect collection (over 2 million specimens), shells from around the world, a large selection of animals from Africa, an international wildlife collection, and much more. There are also temporary exhibits that rotate throughout the year. Currently the museum is showing an amazing collection of animals that were a gift from Ken Behring.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum hold live animal show to educate people about the natural world. Currently, the days and times of the shows are as follows:

Monday: Reptiles at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Tuesday: Adaptations at 7:30 pm
Wednesday: Utah Plants and Animals at 7:30 pm
Thursday: Ecosystems at 7:30 pm
Friday: Invertebrates at 7:30 pm
Saturday: Reptiles at 1:00 pm

If you've never had a chance to see one of the shows, you are in for a treat. The kids will love it!
The best part, the entrance to the Bean Museum and the live animal shows are FREE. There are other activities, such as Saturday Safaris, that have a fee, but for the value you get, these fees are nominal.

Place: Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum
Location: 645 East 1430 North, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m, Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday
Cost: FREE


View Larger Map


Distance from:
Salt Lake City: 44.5 miles
Odgen: 79.9 miles
Provo (downtown): 2.3 miles
Logan: 125 miles