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Education, outreach and tours

Instilling a sense of wonder and excitement about the natural world and the unique place that is northern Â鶹ӳ»­.

Our museum is unique in that our collections and displays are of true scientific specimens. There are no props. And when you come here, you’re talking to scientists. It’s all real. There’s not a plastic thing in the whole place.

Beth Leger

Museum Director and Foundation Professor of Biology

Dried dead bats labeled in a drawer.

Our lobby is open for self-guided tours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m - 4 p.m. during the spring and fall semesters.

Â鶹ӳ»­ our educational tours

One of the missions of the Museum of Natural History is to instill a sense of wonder and excitement about the natural world and the unique place that is northern Â鶹ӳ»­. We welcome classes, scout troops, clubs, and other groups to plan a visit to the museum and see the natural heritage of northern Â鶹ӳ»­. Visits are designed to be interactive and age-appropriate with a behind-the-scenes tour and a standards-based, hands-on science experience.

  • Educational tours of our museum are free
  • We can accommodate groups up to 40 students
  • Tours last approximately 75 minutes and include an interactive look at the museum collections and a standards-based, hands-on science activity
  • Tours are offered at 10 AM and 11:30 AM three days a week
  • Tours should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance
  • Beyond these guidelines, it may be possible to make special accommodations for your group by contacting our Education and Collections Coordinator Cynthia Scholl 

Our tour topics follow the three dimensions of science learning outlined by the Next Generation Science Standards.

Visit our K-12 tour topics page to learn more

Museum news and updates

See what's been happening at the Museum of Natural History!

A person holds a lizard while a young person points at it.

Day at the Museum returns to University campus on Oct. 19

A dozen museums offering free admission from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

A person's hands reach into a fridge and hold up a brown labeled tag on a white bag.

Banking on Â鶹ӳ»­'s native seeds

An effort to supply Â鶹ӳ»­ plant seeds at the local, state and federal levels receives federal funding

Audience in the Full-Dome Theater in 1963 watching the blue sky and clouds projected on the ceiling at the Fleischmann Planetarium.

Explore science for free at Museum of Natural History, Keck Museum and Fleischmann Planetarium April 23-24

The museums are hosting guests as part of the Northern Â鶹ӳ»­ Science and Technology Festival