Join over 40 local Santa Cruz artists as they showcase their craftsmanship! We will be featuring a wide array of goods, ranging from paintings and photography to jewelry, decor, and embroidery. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to support our community’s artisans, celebrate local talent, and grab a gift just in time for Mother’s...
Get to know Santa Cruz’s WILD SIDE at the Museum of Natural History. Nerd out on your night out during monthly after-hours events, featuring rotating themes, vendors, and activities. Free admission to the Museum all day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with special indoor festivities 5 to 8 p.m. Join us for Genomic June! The Museum is...
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is turning 120 years old! Author Taylor Lahey will be reading his debut book, 'Câmbio'. To celebrate, we're throwing a huge birthday party for August's First Friday! We're bringing together some of our friends from across the community for a night of games, arts and crafts, music, and...
Looking for the purr-fect way to spend your Friday night? You otter swing by to celebrate Safari September! The Museum is thrilled to partner with the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Sea Otter Savvy to showcase these marvelous mammals all month long. Join us for a hare-raising adventure as wildlife photographers display their images of endangered species...
Every year, October 15th is National Fossil Day. But why limit the fun to just a day? At the Museum, we’re turning it into a month-long celebration of fossils with a Pleistocene Pop-Up exhibit and events! Our Fossil Frenzy First Friday will showcase paleontologists, geologists, and scientific illustrators with a fossil focus. Bring your mystery...
Join your friends at the Museum as we put the “pal” in paleontology at this Pleistocene Pop-Up family fun festival all about fossils! Meet geologists, paleontologists, naturalists, and artists for an afternoon of family-friendly fun, activity stations, fossil interactives, and so much more. Featured programs throughout the day include a fossil identification station, a Rockin’...
Get ready for a tree-mendous First Friday at the Museum! Our Redwoods First Friday will celebrate and explore the wonders and history of our local redwood forests while highlighting the Treasured Trees exhibit. Connect with artists, naturalists, and community partners who work to protect and share the beauty of redwoods. Enjoy hands-on activities, free museum...
Looking for locally made, nature-inspired gifts this holiday season? Join us for the Museum’s Holiday Sale and Art Market, featuring a curated selection of art, jewelry, home décor, prints, and more from over 20 local artists and makers whose work celebrates nature and natural history, including Kiwi Cyr, Hannah Caisse, Kylene Gilmore, Donna Thomas, Sarah...
Free Admission Day! Discover the wonders of nature at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with free entry for everyone. Explore fascinating exhibits, connect with local wildlife, and make it a day of learning and fun for all ages. PLAN YOUR VISIT OUR EXHIBITS
Continuing a tradition that began in 2016, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History will celebrate the birthday of its founder, Santa Cruz naturalist and lightkeeper, Laura Hecox, at this special open house. The outdoor event will include Victorian-era activities, community partners, historians, and the 2026 Laura Hecox Naturalist award presentation. Program: 10am-5pm: FREE...
Free Admission Day! Discover the wonders of nature at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with free entry for everyone. Explore fascinating exhibits, connect with local wildlife, and make it a day of learning and fun for all ages. PLAN YOUR VISIT OUR EXHIBITS
Get ready for a fun-gi First Friday at the Museum! Our Fungus February First Friday invites you to dive into the fascinating world of fungi and the vital role they play in our local ecosystems. From underground networks to above-ground marvels, this evening celebrates the weird, wonderful, and essential world of mushrooms. Connect with artists,...
Free Admission Day! Discover the wonders of nature at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with free entry for everyone. Explore fascinating exhibits, connect with local wildlife, and make it a day of learning and fun for all ages. PLAN YOUR VISIT OUR EXHIBITS
Get ready for a Herpetology Happy Hour! This month we're celebrating the slimy, scaled, and slithering inhabitants of our local ecosystems. Connect with artists, scientists, and community partners who study, steward, and protect amphibians and reptiles. Enjoy live animals, hands-on activities, refreshments, free museum admission, and special seasonal items in the Museum Store. An open...
Free Admission Day! Discover the wonders of nature at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with free entry for everyone. Explore fascinating exhibits, connect with local wildlife, and make it a day of learning and fun for all ages. PLAN YOUR VISIT OUR EXHIBITS
Free Admission Day! Discover the wonders of nature at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with free entry for everyone. Explore fascinating exhibits, connect with local wildlife, and make it a day of learning and fun for all ages. PLAN YOUR VISIT OUR EXHIBITS
Join us for our Spring Artist Market in the Park on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m! Celebrate the season with a curated lineup of local artists, makers, and creatives showcasing nature-inspired goods just in time for Mother’s Day. Browse unique, handmade items, meet the artists, and enjoy a vibrant afternoon in...
