Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Science Laboratory was established by Mesalands Community…read moreCollege in the small town of Tucumcari, NM. While the smallish museum was closed on the Sunday (August 2, 2026) that I was able to visit, I knew in advance the exhibits they had on display: + Mesozoic Era dinosaur fossils + A 40-foot-long Torvosaurus (T-rex-like) skeleton from the Jurassic period + Casts of dinosaur footprints + Fossils from local dig sites + "Dig for Bones Sandbox" + Rocks and mineral from around the world They also have a gift shop. Admission prices - which will give you a chuckle - are currently as follows: + Children (3 and under) Free + Juniors (4-11) $6 + Adult (12-59) $10 + Seniors (60-98) $8 + Dinosaurs (99 and older) Free + Educators/College Students (ID Required) $8 + Active Military (ID Required) $8 + Call for group rates! I would have gladly paid that price if it had been open & my dog was allowed in (which she probably isn't because... BONES! Lol). TIP Closed Sundays and Mondays. Works Cited https://www.mesalands.edu/page/mesalands-community-colleges-dinosaur-museum-and-natural-science-laboratory

Yes, this is a small museum. It is also a cheap entry fee and with a lot of amazing exhibits! Plan…read moreto spend between one and two hours here. There are many bronze statues that you are allowed to touch to feel what the dinosaur bones would feel and look like at that size. There's also life size dinosaur sculptures and dioramas and the museum strives to relate dinosaurs to our modern birds. There is a sizable kids area as well.

Stopped by here to get our Arizona Route 66 passport book stamped. The gentleman working was very…read morenice and knowledgeable. All the vehicles are from the local people. He asked where we are headed and gave us some advice about that area. This is a small museum but a great one. Don't pass it up.

A cute little Museum with classic cars and a cool movie showing the history of Route 66. A must…read morestop.

FREE This is just one of the many things that becomes a…read morebonus stop to stretch your legs and to learn about history. I had no idea that this place is where he was buried and I guess I forgot most of the story. It was good to get caught up on and also to get other headstones That were from the 1800s. It is worth a stop for sure. I WOULD RECOMMEND

Quick stop of Western American history. Interesting guy. Prominent feature for tourists in the area.read more

Went to a diner named Sidekix on 66. It had a delicious breakfast! I definitely recommend the…read moreFrench toast there! The city had awesome old timey motels with classic movie esc signs! This is a great place to stop on a roadtrip or asa rest stop!

I like the city of Tucumcari mainly for the nostalgia…read more I wish it didn't seem like it was dying off when I visited August 2-3, 2026. There aren't many of the motels with the neon signs left anymore. The ones that are left do look super cool at night and are very well-maintained. You'll still see cars, cruising up and down route 66. Some of them are really nice older models. The locals are nice for the most part. I'm really sad that the car museum is not here anymore. That's a huge fail in my opinion. How could they let that happen? Hence, the 3 stars.

7-17-25 $5, worth it…read more I don't know why, but I didn't ask the ladies name that was working there today, shame on me, she was pleasant and should be acknowledged. Here's to you, thank you. This was a bonus stop that you can only do when you are doing a road trip. I just never know where you're gonna be. I love the history of Route 66 back in the day my family had a Hugh connection with that road. We've been on most of it, but not all of it and it's always fun to hit another part. I'm not sure why I had to buy another hat, but I did. The museum was fabulous. Not just the cars, but all the paraphernalia, and the old signs were great.. I WOULD RECOMMEND

Super fun stop if you are into classic cars or just want to take a break and see some truly…read morebeautifully rebuilt classics. We enjoyed walking the aisles and seeing the classics at their best. There were so many (like the Buiks) that I had never heard of, but loved! Tons of Chevys of all kinds in here. We are a Ford family so I wished there were a few more of those, but I got a few in and it was fun! $5 entry, lots of parking. Nice stop to stretch your legs and see some history.

Stepping into the Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo is like entering a wonderland of…read morescience--complete with roaring dinosaurs, swirling galaxies, and lasers that make you say, "Whoa, did that just happen?" The place buzzes with curiosity from the moment you walk in. I kicked things off in the Sun, Earth & Universe gallery, pressing buttons to trigger solar flares and playing with real-time space weather--instant brain tickles that felt both geeky and awesome . Then I zipped over to the Outdoor Science Park, where a life-size T‑Rex and Triceratops loomed over a fossil dig pit. Kids were scooping up "bones" while I dodged tennis balls flying from a launcher--science meets playground shenanigans . Later, I curled up in the cozy Treehouse Reading Nook, surrounded by bird chirps from the aviary above--a peaceful contrast to the chaos of color bombs and bouncing probes . The highlight, though? The Space Theater, a full‑dome planetarium that launched me from Earth to black holes in minutes--complete with dramatic music and enough stars to rival my ex's eyes . It's clear DHDC is more than a kids' museum--it's a playground for inquisitive minds of all ages. Traveling exhibits keep things fresh, and a recent "Beyond: Unity in Community" display even won a national award for celebrating Afghan culture . Educational programs, planetarium shows, story times, and even sci‑fi-style "KABOOM!" demos fill the calendar . By the end of my visit, my cheeks hurt from smiling, my head buzzed with fun facts, and I momentarily considered launching myself into orbit. Instead, I left with a grin, a handful of newfound cosmic trivia, and a plan to bring all my friends next time. Bottom line: Don Harrington Discovery Center is science with soul--equal parts spectacle and insight. Whether you're a kid, a curious adult, or just someone who likes lasers and dinosaurs (who doesn't?), this place throws the perfect brain party.

This place was great until they put a tribute to Afghanistan complete with minaret and the flag of…read moreAfghanistan in the middle of the center!! We appreciated the free entry for military but after seeing that, we will not be renewing our memberships and glad we didn't pay this time. We will NOT be returning. They spent all that money to honor Afghanistan. HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED!!

Upon the recommendation of the director of the museum in Clayton, I decided to visit here. The…read moreMuseum is very well kept with lots of area history. My favorite part was the dust bowl section. You actually go on a little shack and then the presentation starts in illuminates. Pieces from the dust bowl days. Overall, it's a little bit of a haul from Clayton, but I feel worth the trip. The only reason I didn't get five stars was the gentleman who was there at the museum wasn't very accommodating as far as showing me around. Otherwise, it was a great museum.

Great place to go and enjoy some time learning about Texas and it's heritage. Very impressed! Had a…read morelot of info and facts about the ranch and Texas in general. I enjoyed the little church they have at the front of the building with the old pews in it. They have life size set ups and very cool to see where our heritage comes from!

A must see in Portales! If you're interested in archaeology, this is one of the most important…read morearchaeological sites in North America. Admission was only $1 for students and $3 for adults. The trail behind the small center leads down to the quarry area and to an enclosed exhibit. The enclosed exhibit covers an excavated area showing all levels and exposed fossils/ bones. Signs tell you which layers and time period you are looking at. The trail leads around the quarry with interpretive signs along the way. Inside the center there are a few interpretive posters and fossils that give you a little information before the trail. The information could be better and more straight forward so I would suggest reading about the site history ahead of time or going to the museum in town first for better background information. There is also a gift shop inside the center. Pro tip: It was very hot the day we went (95 degrees) and we were out mid-day. I suggest getting here as early as possible, wearing lots of sunscreen, and long sleeves. They do worn you about rattle snakes so closed toed shoes are best. A porta-potty was located on the trail.

Days open are Monday through Friday. We were there on a holiday Monday and the place was closed…read more Visiting shouldn't be this hard.