Harvard Museum of Natural History!

What Is the Harvard Museum of Natural History?

The Museum of Natural History is the meeting point of three world-class museums: the Herbaria, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Mineralogical & Geological Museum!

What Makes It Wonderful?

This museum opened in 1998 as the showcase of one amazing collection that began with minerals in 1784! The Herbaria is home to millions of specimens from algae to orchids and even features dried plants that were collected by Henry David Thoreau at Walden Pond! The Mineralogical & Geological Museum (the oldest) has hundred of thousands of fine rock specimens, including gemstones, meteorites, and huge crystals from the Naca mines! Lastly, the Museum of Comparative Zoology has over 21 million animal specimens, fossilized or taxidermied, from all over the world including a rare coelacanth and the most complete Kronosaurus queenslandicus skeleton ever found! Like many museums, there are also rotating exhibits, and when I was there, that exhibit featured glass flowers by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, and was called From the Hands of the Makers!

How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?

Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
Volunteer at the Harvard Museum of Natural History!
Donate to the Harvard Museum of Natural History!
Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!