OPEN TODAY: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. View Hours

Connecting people to the wonders of nature for over 100 years

Plan Your Visit

Upcoming Events

(FULL) Member Meet-Up: Cotoni-Coast Dairies

9:00am  - 12:00pm
  • Members Only
  • Nature Walk

Oil Painting in Miniature

12:00pm  - 3:00pm
  • Workshop

After-School Activity: Ornithology

4:30pm  - 6:30pm
  • Vamos Afuera

The Banana Slug Genome

6:00pm  - 8:00pm
  • Lecture
  • Redwoods

Genome June First Friday

5:00pm  - 8:00pm
  • First Friday
  • Open House

Rispin Mansion – National Trails Day

9:45am  - 12:30pm
  • Volunteer Event

World Oceans Day Beach Cleanup

10:00am  - 12:00pm
  • Volunteer Event

Family Fun: Science Illustration

10:30am  - 12:30pm
  • Vamos Afuera

After School Activity: Mammals

4:30pm  - 6:30pm
  • Vamos Afuera

What’s Happening at the Museum Right Now

illustration of a mom and baby plover
Featured Exhibit

The Art of Nature

March 28 – June 8, 2025

Explore the fine details of the natural world in this beloved annual exhibit of science illustration. Since 1989, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has been connecting visitors with skilled local artists who excel at creating depictions of organisms or processes that teach, inform, and create an understanding of our world.

Building Improvement Project

Bright Future Campaign

Join us!

We humbly invite every fan of the Museum to join us in building the Museum’s Bright Future as we raise funds to renovate, modernize, and expand Santa Cruz’s oldest museum. The Bright Future campaign will advance our immersive exhibits, programs, and collections, sustaining and deepening the love of nature and learning held by all who visit us. As a transformational investment in our mission, the campaign brings an opportunity to reflect on what the Museum means to each of us, and how it impacts our lives and communities.

Kid holding magnifying glass with a collage of clip art
Education Matters

Connecting kids to nature & inspiring future scientists

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is a leader in environmental education in Santa Cruz County, serving more than 30,000 children and adults each year. From programs inside our galleries and out in nature, to rentable resources and free curriculum, we are committed to making natural history fun and accessible to the community.

Lighthouse Keeper's Legacy: Tracing the Museum’s History

Learn More

Dig Deeper Into Local Natural History