Collections and specific historical references offer a multifaceted introduction to Madison County. The Museum of Rexburg houses artifacts from Rexburg and the surrounding area. It also features an exhibit about the Teton Dam and the effects of its collapse on June 5, 1976. The collection draws attention to objects from the local area; the exhibit focuses on a single, precisely dated event. The museum thus offers two distinct ways to explore history without conflating the two subjects.
Culture, Art and Natural History
The Jacob Spori Art Gallery displays works by professional artists, as well as BYU-Idaho students and faculty. The Romney Geology Museum houses hundreds of unique rocks, minerals and fossils. This places artworks from professional and academic practice alongside geological specimens. The tour options differ for planning purposes: private tours for groups of 15 or more are offered at the gallery and can be reserved by email; tours at the Romney Geology Museum are available in summer and during semester breaks by appointment only.
Five greenhouses in the Ezra Taft Benson Building are used for campus landscaping and scientific experiments. The Thomas E. Ricks Horticulture Demonstration Gardens cover 10 acres and are used by the school and surrounding communities. Their uses differ: the greenhouses focus on landscaping and experiments, while the demonstration garden is used by the school and communities.
Stage and Planetarium
The Rexburg Community Theatre was founded in 2007 and has produced more than 30 shows since then. It offers professional, high-quality and affordable family theater. The founding year and number of productions describe its development, while its focus on family theater indicates the type of performances it offers.
The BYU-Idaho Planetarium offers public and private shows. For public Thursday shows, tickets are sold at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. This rule applies to public Thursday shows; check the current show schedule before your trip.
Parks and Seasonal Experiences
Rexburg’s municipal park system includes nine parks and more than 86 acres of parkland. The city’s parks are open from sunrise to 10 p.m. Seasonal attractions have their own operating periods: the Idaho Centennial Carousel operates every year from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and Rexburg Rapids operates annually from early June through late August. The periods overlap but do not match exactly. The information covers two levels of planning: daily park opening hours and annual operating seasons for the attractions. If any of these are important for your trip, check the current dates in advance.
Yellowstone Bear World also offers different animal experiences. The petting zoo spans more than one acre and includes free-roaming farm animals. On the Wildlife Excursion, a professional wildlife keeper takes visitors close to elk, bison, black bears and grizzly bears. The experiences differ in the animal groups and the way visitors encounter them.
Rexburg Races holds the Teton Dam Marathon every June; check the current event date before your trip. From KRXE, the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about a 90-minute drive; actual travel time may vary.
Discover more destinations: Rexburg, Butte County, Blaine, Clark County, Nez Perce County, Franklin County, Oneida County, Benewah County.
For the broader travel overview: Idaho.
