Explore St George through its geological past, landscapes and city history. The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site focuses on tracks and fossils, while the Red Hills Desert Garden showcases water-wise planting. Self-guided walks lead to historic buildings. If you’re looking for a destination with a range of cultural and nature-related themes, these highlights can help you decide whether St George is right for you.

Dinosaur Fossils and Art

At the fully enclosed, air-conditioned St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site, step into an Early Jurassic ecosystem. You can see real dinosaur tracks, plant impressions and fish fossils. The range of finds offers more than a single glimpse of dinosaurs: plants and fish are also part of the ecosystem on display. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last admission is at 4:30 p.m. Plan your visit around these hours and check the schedule before you go.

The St. George Art Museum offers a different cultural focus. It collects, preserves, interprets and displays artworks and artifacts from Utah and the West. This lets you complement the area’s natural and geological history with a look at art and cultural objects, without conflating the two subjects.

Gardens, Landscapes and Getting Your Bearings

St George lies in a valley where transitional areas of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau meet landscapes and wildlife of the Mojave Desert. This regional setting makes nature and scenery another way to explore the destination. At the Red Hills Desert Garden, water conservation is at the heart of the garden: This public garden in St. George City covers just under five acres and features around 5,000 water-wise plants.

The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Discovery Center also combines nature-related themes with practical information. There you can see ambassador animals, detailed maps and information panels about local geology and history. The center also provides free maps, brochures, restaurant guides and local event calendars. These materials offer different starting points for planning, while the exhibits draw attention to geology and local history.

Historic Walks in St George

The Washington County Historical Society offers downloadable or printable materials for a self-guided walk through historic downtown St George. Use the materials provided to explore the route independently. The Pioneer Corner walking tour highlights the Pioneer Courthouse. Completed in 1876, the Old Pioneer Courthouse is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Washington County.

Another themed route is the Town Square walking tour. It describes important historic buildings in St George, including the Tabernacle, Dixie Academy (Children’s Discovery Museum) and Woodward School. Together, the walks offer different perspectives on the city’s architectural history: the Pioneer Corner walk focuses on the courthouse, while the Town Square walking tour introduces several important buildings. This gives you a choice between a clearly defined focus and a broader overview of historic architecture as you explore.

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