San Diego Natural History Museum

Explore an enormous cast of an Allosaurus skeleton from the Jurassic Period, a mega-sized replica of an extinct megalodon shark, a Foucault pendulum that proves the earth is spinning — and many more marvels at this Balboa Park institution marking its 150th anniversary in 2024.

Known affectionately as “The Nat,” the venue showcases the natural history of Southern California and the Baja California Peninsula — from past to present. Fascinating exhibits, a giant screen theater, summer camp, free guided hikes, talks, lectures, community science projects and an expansive research collection all combine to foster a lifelong love of learning about nature and the environment.

Exhibits span four floors, and include “Fossil Mysteries,” where visitors travel through a period of 75 million years — from the time of dinosaurs to present day. Along the way, guests can touch real fossils and rocks, unearthing clues to the past. Another permanent installation entitled “Coast to Cactus in Southern California” highlights inhabitants of some of the region’s major five ecosystems: coastal mud flats, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, mountains and desert. It features traditional taxidermy, along with live animals and interactive displays such as a climb-through close-up of a mud flat and a simulated desert campsite complete with a vintage Airstream trailer. Also intriguing and visually stunning is “Unshelved,” which serves as a rare “backstage” glimpse at the museum’s storage and collections areas.

Not to be missed is the museum’s giant screen theater. The Subaru 3D Experience offers 300 stadium-style seats for optimal viewing of nature and adventure films. Tickets to the movies are included with paid admission and for Balboa Park Explorer passes. Guests who visit on Resident Free Days pay just $5 per person at the admission desk. Movies run about 25-40 minutes and dive into topics such as oceans, plants and animals. View the theater schedule here.

From June to August, things get wild during Summer Camp. Full-day camps offered for grades 1-8 are packed with crafts, games and opportunities to explore. Youngsters enjoy fun programs like “Fossil Finders,” “Insect Investigators,” “Rock On!,” and “Paleo FBI.”

Summer also offers the chance to hang out at the museum every Friday during “Nat at Night,” when the venue can be enjoyed until 10 p.m. Visit the rooftop deck for great views and vibes, test your knowledge at trivia, and indulge in delicious food from local restaurants. Admission is half-price after 5 p.m. (tickets are available at the door only). On Labor Day, the honorary end of summer, “Nat at Night” returns on select Fridays.

Activities offered outside of the museum include:
• Whale Watching — During gray- and blue-whale watching seasons, book an excursion with City Cruises, which features an on-board museum-trained volunteer naturalist, who provides fascinating facts about these magnificent marine mammals.
• Guided Hikes — Museum Canyoneers lead free guided hikes on various trails around San Diego County to familiarize people with our local landscapes. Join these expert naturalists to get up close and personal with nature in our region. There are 60 hikes from which to choose, taking place throughout San Diego County between September 2023 and June 2024. View the schedule, and prepare to take in the fresh air here
• Community Science Projects — Perfect for kids on Winter or Spring Break or anyone interested in conservation, the Community Science page offers ways to help The Nat catalog current events. Submit photos of monarch butterflies, reptiles, or bumblebees in Southern California or Baja California and upload them to the iNaturalist app or website. In April 2024, check out “City Nature Challenge,” a four-day international collaboration and help spot nature across our globe.

The Nat marks its sesquicentennial — an incredible 150 years of commitment to nature in San Diego — in 2024. As a birthday present to the region, the museum will open a new native plant garden in late spring. Pocket gardens and interpretive trails will surround the museum’s building with living displays of native and low-water plants that provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. View a full calendar of events and activities to commemorate this milestone here.

Visiting this amazing venue and see the world in a whole new way, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Learn more at sdnat.org.

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