A series of in‐beam gamma ray and conversion electron studies has been performed on the Z=100 nucleus250Fm using the204Hg(48Ca,2n)250Fm reaction at the gas‐filled recoil separator RITU of the University of Jyva¨skyla¨, Finland. The ground state rotational band has been observed up to spin 18. The rotational properties are compared to those of the Z= 102 nuclei252,254No measured earlier. © 2003 American Institute of Physics