OPEN TODAY: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. View Hours

Connecting people to the wonders of nature for over 100 years

Support Us

Upcoming Events

Saturdays in the Soil

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

Laura Hecox Day 2026

11:00am  - 4:00pm
  • Open House

Rockin’ Pop Up!

11:00am  - 4:00pm
  • Pop-Up

Free Admission Day

11:00am  - 4:00pm
  • Open House

Fungus February First Friday

5:00pm  - 8:00pm
  • Open House

Discovering and Drawing Fungi

10:30am  - 3:00pm
  • Nature Walk
  • Workshop

Mobile Museum at World Wetlands Day

11:00am  - 1:00pm
  • Mobile Museum
  • Vamos Afuera

Toddler Tumble Time: Entomology

10:30am  - 11:40am
  • Vamos Afuera

Little World of Lichen Walk

10:00am  - 12:00pm
  • Nature Walk

What’s Happening at the Museum Right Now

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.

Dig Deeper Into Fungus

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

Learn More