Endowment Fund

The Dakota Dinosaur Museum has established an Endowment Fund to receive and administer bequests, estates, insurance, gifts and other assets to enable the further growth and operation of the museum. From the contributions the principal will be retained and only the income will be used to provide a more stable annual operating fund.

 Museum History

The idea of the Dakota Dinosaur Museum first originated in 1987 when the personal collection of Alice and Larry League exceeded several thousand geological and paleontological specimens. A 501-c-3 non-profit corporation was organized to construct a museum to house their collection. Funding for the building was secured in 1993 from the city of Dickinson's hospitality tax revenues. Local businesses and individuals contributed over $275,000 in cash and donated supplies and services to make the museum become a reality.

The museum opened for public review on May 13, 1994 with 10 full-scale dinosaurs displayed in a Triassic through Cretaceous time continuum. Other exhibits include mammals, mineral and rock collection, florescent minerals, vertebrate and invertebrate fossils and seashell collection. In total, the museum displays over 800 specimens.

Larry League, a professor of Geography /Geology at Dickinson State University and his wife, Alice, a nonprofit agency director, volunteered their time to coordinate the development, fundraising, construction and exhibit preparation of the museum. Many of the specimens in the exhibits were collected, prepared and donated from their collection. After the opening of the museum, Alice was hired as Director and Larry was hired as the Curator/Collections Manager. They continue in these positions.

Since opening day, over 320,000 individuals have visited the museum. These are some of their comments:
- A surprise along the highway
- Loved the mineral collection
- Excellent fossil museum
- Kids loved it!
- Learned so much, wish for more time
- Very educational and impressive
- An awesome place to learn
- Best rock/mineral exhibit ever
- First class - best in the world
- It brought dinosaurs into perspective
- Really liked the Triceratops exhibit
- What a treat to talk to the person that found the Triceratops
- Great! Done with love.

The operation of the Dakota Dinosaur Museum is funded by entrance fees, members' contributions and gift shop profits. No local, state, or federal funds are received to fund the museum operation. Our present funding never seems adequate to add all the new exhibits we would like to the collection. The board and staff strive to maintain a first class museum. Any and all contributions to increase our endowment fund will be appreciated.

For more information about making a tax deductible contribution to this 501-c-3 charitable organization, please contact: Alice League, Director
May 1 – Labor Day: 701-225-3466
Labor Day – April 30: 970 -577-0131