Primary Exhibit

OPEN YEAR-ROUND

Prepare to be awestruck by Big Mike, the striking bronze statue that greets you at Museum of the Rockies. This life-size replica of MOR 555—a remarkably complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton discovered by Kathy Wankel in 1988 near Montana’s Fort Peck Reservoir—stands 38 feet long, 15 feet tall, and weighs 10,000 pounds. Cast in bronze by Research Casting International in 2001, Big Mike was the world’s first full-size bronze T. rex and was dedicated in memory of Dr. Michael P. Malone, the 10th President of Montana State University.  

Although the original fossil bones now reside at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History as the Nation’s T. rex, Big Mike remains an iconic symbol of discovery and wonder at MOR. A generous gift from the museum’s National Advisory Board and friends, the sculpture continues to leave a lasting impression on visitors. Be sure to snap a photo, share your visit using #MORBigMike, and celebrate this unforgettable encounter with one of Earth’s most legendary predators.