Explore Nevada's natural heritage at the Museum of Natural History

Explore Nevadas natural heritage at the museum of natural history
Students are exploring specimine and wildlife at the museum.

You can think of the museum as like a library, but it’s full of biological diversity instead of books.

Chris Feldman

Associate Museum Director and Curator of Vertebrates

Dried dead bats labeled in a drawer.

Located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno, the Museum of Natural History holds irreplaceable specimens of plants and animals used in research, teaching, and outreach. Collections date back as far as the 1850s, and represent unique snapshots of the flora and fauna of the Great Basin and beyond. As the only museum of its kind in the state, the Museum of Natural History is a unique and important resource for understanding Nevada's natural heritage.

Hours

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

Guided virtual and in-person tours must be scheduled in advance.

Schedule your in-person tour

Want to know more about who we are and what we do?

From leading scientific research to community outreach and events, our museum encompasses a lot! Watch to learn more about what we do!

Museum news and updates

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

A microscopic image shows two large grains of pollen that look like spiky yellow balls on a butterfly leg, which is a straight line horizontally with grooves in it.

Museum collections shed light on butterfly adaptations over time

Research looking at preserved butterflies reveals the complex story in a grain of pollen

Children play-growl at a taxidermy mountain lion.

Museum of Natural History welcomes CFRC class of four-year-olds

The Museum uses interactive experiences to teach visitors about the natural world.

A baby Lahontan Cutthroat Trout swims in its new tank with colorful pebbles and a log in the background.

The College of Science Museum Complex welcomes guest for three unique museum experiences

New exhibits and updates have reinvigorated the Museum of Natural History, the Keck Museum and the Fleischmann Planetarium, all now open to the public after extended closures related to the ongoing pandemic

Read more news and learn about upcoming events at the Museum of Natural History