We invite you to gaze into the distant past at some of the oldest rocks to be found in Utah, or anywhere else in the world. Where you can see fossils that actually took part in the “Cambrian Explosion”, that unexpected flowering of life that is still a puzzle and is still being explored by to-days leading paleontologists. Get a glimpse into the world of the Fremont, a time when Native Americans inhabited our valleys in surprisingly large numbers, foreshadowing the agricultural development that would become the mainstay of later pioneer life. Learn about the early explorers of Millard County – the Spanish who came first, to be followed by the Mormon settlements. Browse through our collection of artifacts representing the Pioneer Period and extending into the 20th Century.

Our beautiful restored “Surrey with a Fringe on Top” may leave you strumming a few verses from the popular musical “Oklahoma” or else our authentically recreated “Parlor Display” will bring back memories of a visit to Grandpa and Grandma’s house, many years ago. You will find that our friendly docents love to relate experiences from their early years in our Valley and even more interested in hearing about yours.

A wide variety of attractions await visitors to our area: Rock-hounding in the West Desert brings tourists from all over the world. Come share the experience of finding your own trilobites, fossils, geodes, gems and ores. Our museum displays will help you identify your finds. Local ATV trails are extensive and some of the best to be found anywhere. Just a few miles to our north lies some of the best preserved sections of the Pony Express and Overland Stage Trails. A few structures partially remain from that era and improved roads allow you to drive those historic sections. The Old Spanish Trail roughly parallels the present I-15 corridor, 36 miles east of Delta; Dominguez and Escalante, two intrepid Spanish explorers, pioneered that route in 1776 and in the process became the first Europeans to visit our area, and most of the present state of Utah; some of the most difficult obstacles during their journey occurred just miles from here.

– J. Owen Neilsen, Museum President