Everything Prehistoric, Hill City

One of the largest, most complete T. rex skeletons ever found crouches inside the museum at Black Hills Institute. Frozen in time, he seems to bare his fossilized teeth at awe-struck crowds or to grin at his favorite museum attendants. This hulking beast, known as STAN, might be the star of the show, but he's not the only reason to visit: elsewhere in the museum, the institute's paleontologists have positioned the remains of outlandish sea creatures, long-tailed land-dwellers, and fossilized minerals.

• From the Press: The marriage of history and science on display at Museum at Black Hills Institute has earned the number-two spot on Midwest Living's list of Top 10 Things to Do with Your Kid in the Black Hills.
• Fun Fact: STAN hasn't always stood within the Museum at Black Hills Institute; in 1995, he headlined The T. rex World Exposition in Tokyo and then spent a year touring major Japanese cities.
• Don't Miss: In addition to the museum's dinosaur fossils and replicas, visitors can find prehistoric shark teeth, fish, bugs, and leaves.
• Prehistoric Souvenirs: Visitors can stop by the museum's gift shop to buy prehistoric-themed books, toys, housewares, and jewelry for friends, family members, or coworkers who might also be cavemen.