What’ s new at the museum?
Step onto the grounds of DC Booth National Fish Hatchery & Archives in Spearfish and you’ re immediately transported to someplace serene, tranquil, peaceful and full of wonder and history. A part of that history now includes a fully renovated museum and archives.
The installation of the new exhibits began in May and opened mid-June.
“ It includes new interpretive exhibits, rotating exhibits and interactive exhibits,” said Booth Society Executive Director Carolyn Ferrell.“ We hope that folks will come and explore things a bit.”
The rotating exhibits will include artifacts that will be changed out every year, enticing visitors to return year after year to see what’ s new.
“ There will also be some new hands-on, kidcentric exhibits,” Ferrell said,“ so we hope the kids will get excited about the museum too.”
April Gregory, Curator of Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation Archive, and her museum tech designed the entire thing from top to bottom.
“ The entire process was a long one,” Ferrel explained.“ It has been in the works more than four years … fabricating exhibits, installing the walls and floors … it’ s really a whole new museum in the same building.”
In addition to the new exhibits, new walls and flooring were added.
“ These additions have added a lot of flow to the museum that wasn’ t there before,” Ferrell said.
6 Down Country Roads July / August 2025