Back to museums

Harvard Museum of Natural History

ChildrenNatural HistoryScienceClosed · Opens 9amFrom $20Harvard (MBTA Red Line) - about a 10-minute walk (0.4 miles)

Das Harvard Museum of Natural History residiert im Universitätsgebäude in Cambridge und präsentiert in 16 Galerien rund 12.000 Exponate aus drei bedeutenden Forschungssammlungen: den Harvard University Herbaria, dem Museum of Comparative Zoology sowie dem Mineralogical and Geological Museum. Die berühmteste Attraktion ist die Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants – die sogenannten „Glass Flowers“, eine Sammlung von 4.300 naturgetreuen Glasmodellen, die ein böhmisches Vater-Sohn-Gespann zwischen 1886 und 1936 schuf. Die Earth and Planetary Sciences Gallery zeigt Tausende von Mineralien, Edelsteinen und Meteoriten, darunter eine über 700 Kilogramm schwere Amethystgeode. In der zweistöckigen Great Mammal Hall wiederum schweben mächtige Walskelette über Giraffe, Bison und der ausgestorbenen Stellerschen Seekuh. Eine Eintrittskarte berechtigt zudem zum Besuch des direkt angrenzenden Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology an derselben Adresse.

What's On

Now
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States

Nearest station: Harvard (MBTA Red Line) - about a 10-minute walk (0.4 miles)

Show on map

Hours

Mon09:00–17:00
Tue09:00–17:00
Wed09:00–17:00
Thu09:00–17:00
Fri09:00–17:00
SatToday09:00–17:00
Sun09:00–17:00

Admission

From $20

Seniors 65+ $18; non-Harvard students with ID $15; youth 3-18 $15; under 3 free; Harvard ID holders free plus one guest; HMSC and Harvard Art Museums members free. Free for Massachusetts residents (proof required) every Sunday 9:00 am-12:00 pm and Wednesdays 3:00 pm-5:00 pm; also free for Massachusetts K-12 teachers, EBT/WIC cardholders plus up to 5 guests, ASTC Passport members and active-duty US military (Blue Star). US veterans get $3 off. Admission includes the adjoining Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. Tickets are sold only at the admissions desk and museum shop.

Nearby

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

History1 min walk

Harvard Art Museums

ArtFree6 min walk

Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts

ArchitectureFree7 min walk

MIT Museum

Design36 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Harvard Museum of Natural History cost?
Standard adult admission to Harvard Museum of Natural History is $20. Seniors 65+ $18; non-Harvard students with ID $15; youth 3-18 $15; under 3 free; Harvard ID holders free plus one guest; HMSC and Harvard Art Museums members free. Free for Massachusetts residents (proof required) every Sunday 9:00 am-12:00 pm and Wednesdays 3:00 pm-5:00 pm; also free for Massachusetts K-12 teachers, EBT/WIC cardholders plus up to 5 guests, ASTC Passport members and active-duty US military (Blue Star). US veterans get $3 off. Admission includes the adjoining Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. Tickets are sold only at the admissions desk and museum shop.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Harvard Museum of Natural History?
Harvard Museum of Natural History is open Open daily 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Closed 25-26 November 2026 (Thanksgiving eve and Thanksgiving), 24-27 December 2026 and 1 January 2027. Opens late at 11:00 am on 10 September 2026, 17 November 2026, 25 February 2027 and 25 May 2027; closes early at 3:00 pm on 12 January 2027.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Harvard Museum of Natural History?
Harvard Museum of Natural History is located at 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States, in the Harvard Square, Cambridge area of Boston. The nearest station is Harvard (MBTA Red Line) - about a 10-minute walk (0.4 miles).
What can I see at Harvard Museum of Natural History?
Glasblumen, glitzernde Mineralien und schwebende Walskelette: 16 Säle voller Naturwunder an der Harvard University, nur zehn Minuten vom Harvard Square entfernt. Current highlights include Wunder sammeln: Entdeckungen von morgen (Collecting Wonders: Tomorrow's Discoveries), Great Mammal Hall, Schwimmen mit Haien: Ein tiefer Einblick in Biologie und Verhalten (Swimming with Sharks: A Deep Dive into Shark Biology and Behavior).
Do I need to book Harvard Museum of Natural History in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Harvard Museum of Natural History?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

ajay_suresh via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

DirectionsVisit Website