Norris Geyser Basin Museum — Attraction in West Yellowstone

The Norris Geyser Basin Museum is located 1/4 mile east of Norris Junction just off the Grand Loop Road. Built in 1929-30, it is National Historic Landmark. Its distinctive stone-and-log architecture became a prototype for park buildings throughout the country known as “parkitecture” (Fishing Bridge Museum and Madison Museum date from the same time period and are of the same style). New exhibits on geothermal geology, Norris Geyser Basin features, and life in thermal areas were installed in 1995. These exhibits replaced old ones from the 1960s with similar subject matter. There is no auditorium in this building, and it consists of two wings separated by an open-air breezeway. An information desk in the breezeway is staffed by National Park Service interpreters. An adjacent old restroom facility of matching architectural style houses a Yellowstone Association bookstore.

The Museum of the National Park Ranger is housed in the Norris Soldier Station, located at the entrance to Norris Campground. This building was one of the original soldier stations, built in 1908, as an outlying station for soldiers on patrol. The building has been completely rebuilt, using original materials where possible and staying true to the original floorplan. The original building was taken down on site and rebuilt. Exhibits depict the development of the park ranger profession from its roots in the military traditions through early rangers and to the present array of NPS staff specialized duties. A small auditorium shows a laser-disc production of the 25-minute movie, “An American Legacy,” which tells the story of the development of the National Park Service. There is no Yellowstone Association sales outlet in this museum. The staffing is done primarily by retired National Park Service employees who volunteer for short periods of time. Many of these employees retired as superintendents, chief rangers, regional directors, and from various positions in the...

Yellowstone’s hottest and most dynamic geothermal basin. Inconsistency is the rule here, meaning there are no predictable geysers, but it is an exciting place as changes can happen virtually overnight. Steamboat Geyser is what makes the basin famous. Unfortunately witnessing a major eruption is difficult. Prior to 2018 it was all but impossible with only a few eruptions in the last decade. March of 2018 began a period of remarkable activity that had not been observed since the early 80s. This has increased your chances exponentially but it is still a very variable geyser with a mind of its own. If you really want to see it, research its past activity and be willing to sit on it for DAYS. Even then there is absolutely no guarantee. It will do whatever it wants to do, which is what makes it so special. It is still interesting to see however. It’s frequent minor eruptions can actually reach 30 plus feet. Be sure to note the silica covered trees on the hill behind and the extensive runoff channels. In the Back Basin you will find Vixen geyser. If it is not erupting when you first see it it is worth give it a few minutes. It has highly variable intervals but can be very active at times, with fun, energetic eruptions. The Porcelain basin is in my opinion one of the prettiest places in Yellowstone. Unlike the clear water found in most other hot springs, the pools here are cloudy and opaque, but intensely colored. Broad flats of white silica are studded with blue, green and red, along with a large number a small but noisy bubblers and spouters. Few other places feel so alive with volcanic energy. One geyser in the basin worth mentioning is Constant. It’s eruptions are quite brief but pretty and often occur every 20-25 minutes. Watch the pool for obvious boiling as this usually tho not always leads to the...

It's just an incredible thing to see, to be there, and see all of these strange, strange things happening in front of you. The smells, the heat, the steam, the volcanic gasses, are a fantastic, 5 star experience.

None of the geysers erupted during the 2 hours we spent there, but we only spent 1 1/2 on the trail. Still enough amazing geological features to make it totally worth it. I already want to do the next trail.

Expect a lot of walking. The trails go for miles and miles. The one we took, the one with the huge Steamboat Geyser, was 1.6 miles, but not too many stairs.

Why only 4 stars? The stink of sulphur is SO strong. It is everywhere in Yellowstone, but you get up close and personal with it on the trail. Hot, steaming, clouds of gas blow every direction. If you smoke or have diminished lung capacity, or COPD, I would recommend caution. Of you're fairly healthy, and are interested in such things, go, your first opportunity.

The museum is near the parking lot, and the fumes...