Guided Tours

The museum is open to the public during the regular school year. Guided tours of the SMSU Museum of Natural History are available year-round by appointment. Reservations for a group tour can be made using the contact information below. Tour fees may apply according to group size.

The tours are very popular among regional K-12 students and their teachers. Approximately 3000 elementary students visit the museum each year. For a nominal fee, a tour of the Museum can be coordinated with a visit to the Planetarium and Greenhouse.

How to Book a Tour

Email Dr. Kenneth Murphy (ken.murphy@smsu.edu) with the following information:

• Name of the school or organization,
• Name of the person arranging a visit,
• Age of visitors,
• Number of people attending,
• Mailing address,
• Phone number and/or email address,
• Date and time you would like to visit
  (You may want to pick multiple dates and times based on preference.)

Let us know in advance if you have any special requests, and we will try to accommodate them. There is no minimum group size. However, weekend and evening tours may entail an additional cost. Some suggestions for the best time to request a tour are Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If the time you request is impossible, staff will suggest the closest possible date and time. If these times still don't work, staff will try to accommodate your request.

Please indicate in your email if you would like to coordinate viewing the SMSU Planetarium or SMSU Greenhouse. During the warmer months, we also have nature trails in our wildlife area on the northwest campus property. We encourage the public to take a walk and experience the wildlife and prairie plants that make Southwest Minnesota their home.

Contact Information

Science Department, Natural History Museum
SM 178
Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State Street * Marshall, MN 56258
Ph: (507) 537-6178 * Fax: (507) 537-6151
Email: science@smsu.edu 

Dr.Alyssa Anderson, Associate Professor of Biology, Department Chair
Ph: (507) 537-6443, Email: alyssa.anderson@smsu.edu 

Dr. Kenneth Murphy, Professor of Physics
Ph: (507) 537-6173, Email: ken.murphy@smsu.edu