Travel back in time with local paleontologist Wayne Thompson from Pacific Paleontology during this hands-on experience in the Santa Cruz Sandhills. Learn first hand about the ancient life of what used to be the Monterey Bay and is now the Santa Cruz Mountains. We’ll hunt for the fossilized remains of ancient creatures like megalodon and explore the … Read more
Ocotober 2019 Meet Wayne Thompson: paleontologist, science educator and friend of the Museum. Wayne holds a long and rich history with us — he was the first person to receive our mastodon skull when it was brought through our doors and, today, he helps advise our Collections department. Wayne first came to the Museum in … Read more
Travel back in time with local paleontologist Wayne Thompson from Pacific Paleontology during this hands-on experience in the Santa Cruz Sandhills. Learn first hand about the ancient life of what used to be the Monterey Bay and is now the Santa Cruz Mountains. We’ll hunt for the fossilized remains of ancient creatures like megalodon and … Read more
Enjoy FREE family-friendly pop-ups in the park all summer long. Featuring nature activities, community groups, food vendors, and more! Plus enjoy free admission to the Museum all day. August’s event celebrates the Museum’s 118th birthday.🎉 Saturday, August 19, 202311 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History1305 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, … Read more
People find fossils in Santa Cruz County all the time! Some of these objects are important for research, while others are best left as part of the landscape. This guide will help you decide what to do when you find something during your outdoor exploration. Where can I find fossils? We live in an area … Read more
June 1, 2023 A very special tooth in Santa Cruz County has captured the attention of the world. A widespread community campaign to recover a mastodon tooth that went missing after being recorded on a local beach culminated on May 30, 2023 when Jim Smith brought a special treasure to the Santa Cruz Museum of … Read more
The science of tying things together Research appointments are the highlight of any given week in the collections department. Not only do we get to learn more about the ways our collections contribute to science, we get to see the process in action. Scientists and students bring their questions alongside various tools of the trade, … Read more
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting people with nature and science to inspire stewardship of the natural world. Founded on the collection of naturalist Laura Hecox, it is the oldest public museum in Santa Cruz dating back to the early 1900s. The Museum welcomes thousands of local … Read more
Santa Cruz County is home to marvelous wonders, from the shoreline to the summit — and every inch of this landscape was under the ocean mere millions of years ago. In an afternoon you can watch whales breach in the ocean and look at the fossilized remains of their ancestors on the beach (or high … Read more
The Santa Cruz Sandhills are a rare habitat in the Santa Cruz mountains that support a very specific niche of plants and animals. Many of our endemic species in the County are limited specifically to the Sandhills. Join us for an overview of this habitat’s geologic history, rare plants and animals, and the human impacts … Read more