The past, present, and future of life on Earth come alive through hands-on exhibits, fascinating specimens, and a peek into the latest research conducted by the Academy's working scientists.

The Kimball Natural History Museum draws on over 160 years of Academy research to highlight the uniqueness of our planet in surprising ways. Learn about the fascinating role of color in the natural world, compare fossils of our early human relatives, and marvel at one-of-a-kind specimens from the Academy's record-breaking scientific collections—all while strolling beneath the bones of some of the planet's largest inhabitants.

The toothy, open mouth of a T. rex skeleton greets visitors at the Academy entrance.

Humongous highlights

From an 87-foot-long blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling to a towering T. rex in the Main Lobby to the hypnotic rotations of our 30-foot Foucault pendulum, the Kimball Natural History Museum is packed with Academy favorites.

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Fossilized saber tooth tiger in the Hidden Wonders exhibit at the Academy

Hidden Wonders

The Academy’s newest exhibition offers an unprecedented peek at nearly 800 standout specimens from our scientific collections—including some on view for the very first time.

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Biologist during a daily penguin feeding in African Hall

Tusher African Hall

Marvel at majestic dioramas of African landscapes, trace the milestones of our own species' fascinating history, and meet our colony of African penguins. 

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Guests exploring Color of Life exhibit

Color of Life

This interactive family favorite illustrates color’s powerful influence on animal behavior in a variety of habitats—from ocean floors to coral reefs to forest canopies.

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Assorted gems and minerals on pedestals in the exhibit

Gems and Minerals Unearthed

Be dazzled by nearly 400 dazzling and dramatic specimens from the Academy's renowned geology collection.

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Colorful insect specimens in the Academy's scientific collections

A library of life

Only a fraction of the Kimball Natural History Museum's nearly 46 million specimens are on exhibit; the rest are part of the museum's vast scientific collections used by researchers around the world to study biodiversity, climate change, and much more.

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