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.

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

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 person holds a lizard in their hands while a child strokes the lizard's back with their finger.

Museum of Natural History preserves Nevada's flora and fauna for future generations

'We are small but mighty'

A person holds a lizard while a young person points at it.

Day at the Museum returns to University campus on Oct. 19

A dozen museums offering free admission from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

A person's hands reach into a fridge and hold up a brown labeled tag on a white bag.

Banking on Nevada's native seeds

An effort to supply Nevada plant seeds at the local, state and federal levels receives federal funding

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