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Harvard Museum of Natural History

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

Le Harvard Museum of Natural History occupe le bâtiment muséal de l'université à Cambridge, réunissant 12 000 spécimens à travers 16 galeries issus de trois collections de recherche : le Harvard University Herbaria, le Museum of Comparative Zoology et le Mineralogical and Geological Museum. Son attraction emblématique est la Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, surnommée les « Glass Flowers » — 4 300 modèles botaniques d'un réalisme saisissant, façonnés en verre par un duo père-fils tchèque entre 1886 et 1936. La Earth and Planetary Sciences Gallery abrite des milliers de minéraux, de pierres précieuses et de météorites, dont une géode d'améthyste de plus de 700 kilos, tandis que la Great Mammal Hall déploie sur deux niveaux des squelettes de baleines suspendus au-dessus d'une girafe, d'un bison et d'une rhytine de Steller, espèce aujourd'hui disparue. Un billet unique donne également accès au Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology attenant, situé à la même adresse.

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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)

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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?
Fleurs de verre, minéraux étincelants et baleines suspendues : les 16 galeries de merveilles naturelles de Harvard, à dix minutes de Harvard Square. Current highlights include Collectionner les merveilles : les découvertes de demain (Collecting Wonders: Tomorrow's Discoveries), Great Mammal Hall, Nager avec les requins : plongée au cœur de la biologie et du comportement des requins (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)

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