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“Even if there are no collectible shells, a walk along the tide drift will yield recognizable bits and pieces of fifteen to...
A natural history museum collection is as much a collection of methods as it is a collection of objects. We learn a lot...
Fossils bring the past to life, but they can’t always take us there. While the smallest sliver of ancient bone can hold...
“What on earth,” asks Frank Perry, “could tiny plankton drifting in the sea have in common with arrowheads and spear points made...
From the glorious wingspan of our golden eagle to the small haunches of our slender salamander, our taxidermy displays are an impactful...
Natural history museums are no strangers to strange fish. Our museum is no exception, even when it comes to exceptional specimens like...
Pressed between pins, glassine paper, and a pinning board rests Eumorpha achemon, the Achemon sphinx moth. Common throughout the United States and findable...
Foundational collector Laura Hecox, who was born 168, was renowned for her lighthouse museum, and celebrated for gifting it to the people...
The science of tying things together Research appointments are the highlight of any given week in the collections department. Not only do...
As many folks know, today’s Seabright was shaped, in part, by various members of the Pilkington family. From Thomas Pilkington, who developed beachfront Seabright...
One hundred and fifteen years ago this month, the Santa Cruz Museum first opened its doors to the public. Those doors were...
Open the delicate pages of this item and you’ll find ferns from long ago. Though carefully pressed and arranged, this pressed plant...
With the Central Coast awash in new growth, this time of year finds many a fungus hunter stalking the landscape to feast...
Today, we explore the Museum’s newest fossil: a fragment of a locally-discovered tooth that belonged to a Columbian mammoth. Not only is...
Have you ever found a fossil? It’s hard to walk along many of our local beaches without encountering the fossilized forms of...
March 20, 2024, an incredible discovery made the headlines: FOSSIL SLOTH BONE FOUND IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, THE FIRST OF ITS...
Jeb Bishop Ecologist, Volunteer, and Advocate for Native Plant Restoration The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is pleased to announce Dr. Jeb...
Paleobotany, or fossil plants, is an interdisciplinary field relying on both botanical and geological expertise to investigate questions related to the evolution and...
Not all that glitters is gold — sometimes it’s benitoite! So discovered prospector James Couch, when in 1907 he encountered some sparkling...
By Gavin Piccione and Graham Edwards Even the smallest and most seemingly ordinary rock tells a story about the processes that have...
On exhibit in the Museum you'll find several large mortars and pestles which were used to pulverize or smash natural materials. They...
At the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, we are fortunate to be able to provide local residents and visitors access to...
Written by Gavin Piccione One of the most exciting perks of having an appreciation for geology is the limitless possibility to find...
Though our coast today is inhabited by sea lions, harbor seals, and elephant seals, none of these species existed in California 3-5...
A very special tooth in Santa Cruz County has captured the attention of the world. A widespread community campaign to recover a mastodon...
Fossils tell the changing story of life on earth over millennia – but they can also tell stories of more recent changes....
Eggs can reveal a good deal about who laid them — hue, markings, shell shape and size can sometimes suggest the identity...
As we wind down from the height of summer, travelers and locals alike are headed home with stories of seasonal adventures. Many...
Laura Hecox: lighthouse keeper, collector, naturalist. Photographer. Here we piece together a richer picture of our founding collector by taking a new...
We have several books associated with our foundational collection, and this particular one is a small leather bound volume entitled “Shell-Book Freshwater...
January brings a new year and new opportunities for contemplation. Many take this occasion to make resolutions, though the new year is...
Walking down the collection’s basketry aisle, drinking in the breathtaking variety of shape, texture, and technique, a glint might catch your eye....
Archaeologists can analyze charred seeds and other plant remains to learn about relationships between people and the natural world deep into the...
