Some of the world’s most renowned natural history museums are in the United States. Each offers up windows into the past through extensive collections of artifacts, interactive exhibits, and educational programs. These institutions preserve and showcase the natural wonders of our planet but also act as research centers, contributing to our understanding of the natural world.
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American Museum of Natural History (New York City, New York) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreAmerican Museum of Natural History (New York City, New York)
- Established: 1869
- Annual Visitors: Approx. 5 million
- Interesting Exhibits: The museum is famous for its “Hall of Dinosaurs,” which includes a vast collection of dinosaur skeletons, including a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Stegosaurus. The Rose Center for Earth and Space, including the Hayden Planetarium, is another highlight.
- Facility: The museum spans across 28 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls, a planetarium, and a library.
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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreSmithsonian National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.)
- Established: 1910
- Annual Visitors: Over 6 million
- Interesting Exhibits: Known for the Hope Diamond, the Hall of Human Origins, and an extensive collection of dinosaur fossils. The Butterfly Pavilion is also a popular attraction.
- Facility: Located on the National Mall, this museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and is one of the largest of its kind.
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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, Arizona) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreArizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, Arizona)
- Established: 1952
- Annual Visitors: Over 600,000
- Interesting Exhibits: This museum is part zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, and natural history museum. Highlights include the hummingbird aviary and the Earth Sciences Center, which houses one of the world’s most comprehensive regional mineral collections.
- Facility: The museum is primarily outdoors, spanning 98 acres and featuring 2 miles of walking paths through various desert habitats.
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Field Museum (Chicago, Illinois) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreField Museum (Chicago, Illinois)
- Established: 1893
- Annual Visitors: Around 2 million
- Interesting Exhibits: The Field Museum is renowned for "Sue," the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever found. The Ancient Egypt exhibit and the Grainger Hall of Gems are also noteworthy.
- Facility: The museum occupies a grand neoclassical building on Chicago’s Museum Campus, alongside other major institutions.
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Denver Museum of Nature and Science (Denver, Colorado) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreDenver Museum of Nature and Science (Denver, Colorado)
- Established: 1900
- Annual Visitors: More than 1.4 million
- Interesting Exhibits: The museum is known for its Prehistoric Journey exhibit, showcasing the evolution of life on Earth, and the Space Odyssey, offering interactive space exhibits.
- Facility: The museum is situated in Denver’s City Park and features a planetarium and an IMAX theater.
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North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh, North Carolina) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreNorth Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh, North Carolina)
- Established: 1879
- Annual Visitors: Over 1 million
- Interesting Exhibits: The museum’s Nature Research Center allows visitors to interact with working scientists, and the SECU Daily Planet, an immersive, three-story multimedia space, is a highlight.
- Facility: The museum consists of two buildings, the Nature Exploration Center and the Nature Research Center, offering a vast array of exhibits and interactive experiences.
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La Brea Tar Pits and Museum (Los Angeles, California) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreLa Brea Tar Pits and Museum (Los Angeles, California)
- Established: 1977 (museum), tar pits are ancient
- Annual Visitors: Nearly 500,000
- Interesting Exhibits: The museum is famous for its Ice Age fossils, including saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and mammoths, all recovered from the tar pits.
- Facility: The museum is part of Hancock Park, where the tar pits are located, and offers both indoor and outdoor exhibits, including active excavation sites.
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Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman, Montana) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreMuseum of the Rockies (Bozeman, Montana)
- Established: 1957
- Annual Visitors: Over 200,000
- Interesting Exhibits: Known for its extensive collection of dinosaur fossils, including a T. rex skeleton, and the Taylor Planetarium.
- Facility: The museum is affiliated with Montana State University and includes a vast collection of paleontological, geological, and cultural artifacts.
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Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) | Photo: ShutterstockSee MoreCarnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Established: 1896
- Annual Visitors: Around 700,000
- Interesting Exhibits: The museum is renowned for its "Dinosaurs in Their Time" exhibit and one of the finest collections of gems and minerals. The Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems and the Powdermill Nature Reserve are also significant.
- Facility: The museum is part of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and is known for its significant research and extensive collections in various fields of natural history.
