Ann Arbor
Michigan
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
About Us:
The Museum of Natural History is a dynamic, evolving organization committed to promoting the understanding and appreciation of the natural world and our place in it. We accomplish this through creative educational programs and exhibits for the benefit of the University community, school groups, and the general public. The Museum provides a window onto the research in Natural Sciences conducted at the University of Michigan.
Exhibits include displays on prehistoric life with the most extensive dinosaur exhibits in the state of Michigan, Michigan wildlife, anthropology, geology, and a digital Planetarium. A new gallery for temporary exhibits was created in 2005.
The Museum offers special activities for adults, families, and children that include public lectures, annual I.D. Days, Halloween parties, Discovery Days, and collaborations with regional libraries and other organizations.
Approximately 20,000 school children visit the Museum annually. Most students participate in guided tours and educational programs. The Museum uses inquiry-based styles of teaching, in which children are invited to look, touch, and question. Tours are led in small groups by our 40-50 University student docents extensively trained by Museum staff.
The Museum is open seven days a week, 357 days a year, and attracts over 100,000 visitors each year. Admission is free of charge, although donations are welcomed. Membership is an important source of funding which, along with sponsorships and other private donations, accounts for over half of the annual operating budget.
Recent News
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History News - November 30, 2024
Message from the Director It's Museum Store sale time, and we couldn't be more excited! A whopping 30% off and free gift-wrapping await you this upcoming Friday. Here's an insider tip-get there in time to join our very last coral reef tank visit…
Read More »Museum at Home: Forbidden CinnamonRolls
This installment of Museum@Home is being sent a little earlier than usual, because it’s Snake Week at U-M! In celebration of World Snake Day on July 16, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum have free, family-friendly events online…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History News - May 15, 2024
It’s Magicicada season! Annual cicadas show up every year, but periodical cicadas (from the genus Magicicada) only show up every 13 or 17 years. Cicadas provide many benefits to the ecosystem. They’re not dangerous, but they…
Read More »Museum at Home: All About the Eclipse
Eclipse Tips A major astronomical event is here! On April 8, 2024, North America will experience its last total solar eclipse for the next 20 years. Watch this 12-minute video to see our Planetarium Manager, Buddy Stark, explain where and how…
Read More »Movement Under the Microscope - Museum at Home: Family
Museum@Home is a virtual museum with something for all ages! Do science experiments, watch demonstrations, and join U-M scientists to learn something new. Museum@Home is issued on the third Wednesday each month and alternates between family and…
Read More »Summer Camp 2024 Info Now Available
Camp Explorations June 14-August 16, 2024 Information about our summer 2024 Camp Explorations program is now available on our website! Camp Explorations is a hands-on, interactive, science-focused summer camp program. Each session includes…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History News - January 17, 2024
Museum@Home Museum@Home is a virtual museum with something for all ages! Do science experiments, watch demonstrations, and join U-M scientists to learn something new. Museum@Home is issued on the third Wednesday each month and alternates between…
Read More »Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 15, 2024 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Although the U-M Museum of Natural History is not currently open most Mondays, we will be open to the public on Monday, January 15, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - December 21, 2023
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Read More »2023 Holiday Schedule for U-M Museum of Natural History
Happy Holidays! Bring your family and friends to the museum over the holidays! Open hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Scroll down to see the planetarium show schedule. We hope to see you soon! The museum will be closed on December…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - December 19, 2023
As the new interim director of the U-M Museum of Natural History, I’m excited about advancing the museum’s mission to ensure that U-M’s cutting-edge research is accessible to all. If you've already given, thank you! If you haven't…
Read More »Matthew Linke Planet of the Ops Fund
We are delighted to announce that former U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium Manager Matt Linke has established the Matthew Linke Planet of the Ops Fund. Matt retired in June 2021 after 32 years as planetarium manager, leaving behind a legacy…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - November 15, 2023
Museum@Home is a virtual museum with something for all ages! Do science experiments, watch demonstrations, and join U-M scientists to learn something new. Museum@Home is issued on the third Wednesday each month and alternates between family and…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History: Creatures that Go Bump in the Night
Creatures that Go Bump in the Night Audience: Teens and Adults Grades: All ages Duration: 8-minute video Materials Needed: None What kinds of things go bump in the night? We think of the supernatural, the unexplained, and dare we…
Read More »University Of Michigan Museum Of Natural History Fall And Winter Hours Resume On September 1
Fall & Winter Hours September 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024 Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Closed Mondays (including Labor Day, September 4) Starting September 1, 2023, the U-M Museum of Natural History will shift to its fall and…
Read More »Mesmerica 360 opening in Ann Arbor
Mesmerica is a visual music journey that brings the mesmerizing music of Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood together with visually-hypnotic, 3D animated art curated from artists around the world, creating an immersive experience…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - August 16, 2023
Have you been gifted a free zucchini this summer? Taken the family out for U-Pick blueberries? Purchased a local produce box or community supported agriculture (CSA) share? Stopped at a roadside stand for fresh veggies? This is a time of bounty for…
Read More »Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Supports Camp Program
Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Foundation provides funding for this year’s summer Camp Explorations! The U-M Museum of Natural History is pleased to announce that the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Foundation has granted $5,000 for the museum’s…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - August 2, 2023
This edition of Museum@Home is all about speciation—the evolutionary process by which distinct species come to be. Step 1: Explore an example of how two species might emerge using an infographic created by U-M undergraduates Abigail Pino,…
Read More »Support Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas at UMMNH
The value of public museums: Support Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas at UMMNH The Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas traveling exhibition from the American Museum of Natural History will open at the U-M Museum of…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History Adult Edition News - July 19, 2023
Museum@Home: Adult Edition Art and science complement each other in ways that can elevate our understanding of the natural world. Jim Cogswell, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design Professor, demonstrates this deftly through Unseen…
Read More »Word from a U-M Paleontologist: Support Dinosaur Discoveries
Word from a U-M paleontologist: Support Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas at UMMNH! The Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas traveling exhibition from the American Museum of Natural History will open at the U-M Museum…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History - Scientist Spotlights: The Next Generation
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Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - The Language of Learning About COVID-19
You’ve probably learned a lot about COVID-19 over the past three years—from information about viral spread and prevention, to the traits of different variants. There’s a lot to know about COVID-19, and there are just as many ways…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - June 27, 2023
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Read More »"U-M Museum of Natural History News - June 21, 2023"
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Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - June 14, 2023
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Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History News - June 7, 2023
School is almost out for the summer and that calls for a pizza party! Why not enjoy your pie with a side of science? In this edition of Museum@Home, U-M undergrads are serving up some piping hot knowledge about the rules of fossil layering, a.k.a.…
Read More »"Sea Monsters" Returns!
Sea Monsters is back! Fan-favorite full-dome film, Sea Monsters, is back at the UMMNH Planetarium & Dome Theater this June. June 2023 Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays 11:30 a.m. Did an Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs? 12:30 p.m. The Sky…
Read More »University Of Michigan Museum Of Natural History Holiday Weekend Hours
Open this holiday weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! This holiday weekend, join us for Planetarium & Dome Theater shows and hands-on activities in the Investigate Labs. On Saturday and Sunday, we have Discovery Demos in the Science Forum…
Read More »The Art Of Science - Museum At Home : Adult Edition
UMMNH’s Winter ‘23 Farrand Memorial Lecture featured a lively panel of U-M professionals who center the microbial universe in their work. Cellular biologist Anthony Vecchiarelli, multi-media artist Jim Cogswell, and chemical engineering…
Read More »Superworms! - Museum at Home: The Family Edition
How do eye cells know how to be eye cells? How do muscle cells know how to act like muscles? That is, why do our cells contain the same DNA but look and behave differently? The answer may lie in gene expression. U-M researchers decode DNA expression…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History News - Summer Hours Begins May 1, 2023
Summer hours = more time to enjoy the museum! You’ll have more time to escape the sizzling heat with the museum’s expanded summer hours! The museum is extending its hours May through August and will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00…
Read More »April in the Microverse: Magnifying the Microbial Universe Theme Semester
April in the Microverse: Magnifying the Microbial Universe Theme Semester Join us for April events and activities as part of the Microverse Theme Semester organized by the U-M Museum of Natural History. Our theme semester brings together a variety…
Read More »University Of Michigan Museum Of Natural History News - Our Planetarium Manager Needs Your Help!
Vote on the new planetarium show! What do you want to see? Our Planetarium Manager Buddy needs your help choosing a new planetarium show. We would like your input as we consider future show options for our Planetarium & Dome Theater.…
Read More »Earth Day Action Museum At Home: Adult Edition
Now in its 53rd year, Earth Day remains a rallying call-to-action for millions of people around the world as we battle the ongoing climate crisis. This annual event has only become more important as we recognize the urgency of climate action and the…
Read More »Museum at Home: Family Edition - April 5, 2023
Spring has officially sprung and all kinds of wildlife are emerging from winter dormancy – including some plants that release allergy-inducing pollen. This month, get in the know about that pesky pollen by helping scientists monitor the…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History - Science Café: Terrible Tsunami
Science Café Terrible Tsunami: How the End-Cretaceous Asteroid Caused a Massive Wave Wednesday, April 12, 2023 5:30–7:30 p.m. Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub 318 South Main Street, Ann Arbor An asteroid killed the…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History : Spring Break Schedule
AAPS & YCS Spring Brea Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31, 2023 UMMNH is open during Spring Break, with hands-on activities and daily planetarium shows. On Tuesday meet snakes and salamanders in a one-of-a-kind Scientist Spotlight from…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History : Museum At Home: Adult Edition
Everything we can see, from our bodies to celestial bodies, is made up of matter: particles like atoms that have mass and take up space. But, matter as we know it can’t explain everything that happens in the universe. Since the early 20th…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History Spring Break Schedule
AAPS & YCS Spring Break Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31, 2023 UMMNH is open during Spring Break, with hands-on activities and daily planetarium shows. On Tuesday meet snakes and salamanders in a one-of-a-kind Scientist Spotlight from…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History - Science Café: Mrna Vaccines of the Future
Science Café Climate Solutions: Renewable Energy Storage and Carbon Capture Wednesday, March 22, 2023 5:30–7:30 p.m. Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub 318 South Main Street, Ann Arbor How can renewables such as wind and…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History - Museum at Home: Family - March 1, 2023
Spring is just around the corner! This is the time when reptiles and amphibians reemerge from their wintery shelters and become active again. This month, slither into the study of herpetology—the science of reptiles and amphibians. Learn about…
Read More »U-M Museum of Natural History - Summer Camp 2023 Info Now Available!
Camp Explorations June 12-August 11, 2023* Information about our summer 2023 Camp Explorations program is now available on our website! Camp Explorations is a hands-on, interactive, science-focused summer camp program. Each session includes…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History - Open for Presidents’ Day
Open Presidents’ Day Monday, February 20, 2023 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Although the U-M Museum of Natural History is not currently open most Mondays, we will be open to the public on Monday, February 20, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00…
Read More »February In The Microverse : Magnifying The Microbial Universe Theme Semester
Join us for February events and activities as part of the Microverse Theme Semester organized by the U-M Museum of Natural History. Our theme semester brings together a variety of new and continuing programs, exhibits, displays, and events…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History - Museum at Home: Family
Museum@Home: Family Roll up your sleeves and meet us in your kitchen for a bubbling experiment! This experiment is offered as part of the UMMNH Theme Semester, Microverse: Exploring the Microbial Universe, which examines the mighty impact of…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History -Into the Microverse
Announcing the Microverse: Magnifying the Microbial Universe Theme Semester Welcome to the U-M Museum of Natural History’s Microverse: Magnifying the Microbial Universe Theme Semester. In Winter 2023 we will be magnifying the tiny but…
Read More »Algae and the Climate Crisis - Museum at Home: Adult Edition - January 18, 2023
When we think of microbes, it’s easy to look at how they’re harmful—flu and coronavirus, foodborne outbreaks, and algal blooms to name a few! But microbes are everywhere and many are beneficial. Join Anthony Vecchiarelli as he…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History : Winogradsky Column—Museum At Home: Family
Ecosystems aren't just limited to the outdoors! Gather some household items and get ready to build a microbial ecosystem in this DIY Winogradsky Column tutorial. Then, check out the museum's Winogradsky Column in person—we're even open an…
Read More »University of Michigan Museum of Natural History: Trail after an Ice Age Mastodon - Museum At Home: Adult Edition
Trail after an Ice Age Mastodon - Museum At Home: Adult Edition Did you miss the UMMNH Farrand Memorial Lecture on cutting-edge research? Watch a recording of the lecture by Daniel C. Fisher, Claude W. Hibbard Collegiate Professor of…
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