We Bring the Bling?

Nothing says Happy Holidays like stones, bones, and flashy photos.

Get into the holiday spirit with a visit to The Nat. See our sparkly side in Hidden Gems, a vertical exhibition featuring gems and minerals on every floor of the Museum. Get prehistoric with a walk through Fossil Mysteries or a screening of Dinosaurs of Antarctica in the Subaru Giant Screen Experience.

And, of course, check out our newest photography exhibition, Caught on Camera. The San Diego Union Tribune’s Karla Peterson toured the show to see beautiful images taken with camera traps, or trail cams.

Karla reports, "Whether it is Dunn’s glowing photo of a pair of young mountain lions lapping up some water in Antelope Valley, or researchers’ cameras catching a coyote casually strolling past a graffiti-covered underpass wall, all of the photos on exhibit serve the same goal of advancing conservation and celebrating San Diego’s incredible biodiversity.” 

Read the story

Make Nature Your New Year’s Resolution

Join us with a one-time gift or a monthly contribution.

We want everyone to love nature the way we do, and to care deeply about conserving it. Investing in The Nat means investing in nature. You can help by making a gift before December 31.  

Donate today

An Experience that Can’t Fit Under a Tree 

The perfect gift for the nature nut in your life.

Want to give them a gift that lasts all year long? Consider gifting a Nat membership so your loved ones can explore year-round with no blackout dates. 
 
Members enjoy free admission, discounts at the café and store, advance registration on free nature hikes, access to exclusive member events, and so much more. 
 
Plus, all memberships come with guest passes, so they can even bring you along if they’re feeling generous!

Gift a membership

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Bundle up with some Nat merch.

It’s getting what we call “cold” here in San Diego, which means now is the time to cozy up with some Nat apparel. Scroll through our online museum store. From beanies to hoodies, there’s something for everyone!  

Visiting in person? When you’re here, check out our selection of Nat ornaments, water bottles, mugs, nature coloring books, and natural history books, including Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors.

The Weather Outside is Frightful... 

Well—not really, because we live in sunny San Diego.

-  The winter season is a great time to spot magnificent gray whales as they migrate between their breeding and feeding grounds. Find out how you can join our Whalers—museum-trained volunteer naturalists—and City Experiences anchored by Hornblower to look for these amazing giants. The season begins next week.

-  Winter is a great time to hike in San Diego. Our museum-trained Canyoneers are hitting the trails and invite you along. Upcoming guided hikes include Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Tijuana River Valley Regional Park. Registration opens to Museum members five weeks prior to the hike date and publicly opens publicly one month prior.

-  Take a trip to the sea—even in the winter. Join us in Nature Studio on select Saturdays in December (10, 17, and 31) to explore the ocean. We'll learn about King Tides as we construct ocean-inspired creations.

Click Here for more information.