Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Preserving natural and cultural heritage since 1899, discover wonder at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
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Take a good look at our state's new official soil conservation insect: the rainbow scarab. And, well, there's no other w...
07/23/2026

Take a good look at our state's new official soil conservation insect: the rainbow scarab. And, well, there's no other way to put it...
..The rainbow scarab is a dung beetle. It's a dirty job, but they look good doing it. Adults use animal droppings as both food and nursery material, shaping and burying dung underground where their larvae can grow and develop.

Their bright colors help the beetles recognize one another, signal fitness to potential mates, and may even provide a degree of camouflage from some animals. Males also sport a single curved horn on the head, used for fighting each other over choice piles of excrement–– a scene that may feel familiar to anyone who engages in online political debate.

But unlike online political debate, the beetles and their disputes provide a productive and valuable service to the human race. By burying dung, they help return nutrients to the soil, reduce the transmission of parasites in livestock, and breathe new life into Oklahoma prairies and grasslands.

Continuing our series highlighting Oklahoma's new state insects, we once again explore the museum's collection of recent...
07/16/2026

Continuing our series highlighting Oklahoma's new state insects, we once again explore the museum's collection of recent invertebrates to meet our new native insect: The American bumblebee.

Bumblebees are some of the largest bee species in North America, up to an inch long, and paired with a deep rumbling buzz that sounds like a miniature attack helicopter, they can be intimidating in close quarters. However bumblebees are typically gentle and non-aggressive. Their relatively small colonies of 50-200 bees do not store large amounts of honey, and with little to defend, they tend to be far less aggressive by nature. Though they can sting and will defend their underground hives if disturbed directly, their stings are actually less painful than a honeybee's.

Though a popularized myth suggests that bumblebee's "shouldn't scientifically be able to fly" given their weight and wing size, in reality they manage well enough to carry large amounts of pollen. The myth originates from a faulty calculation in the 1930s which was based on rigid airplane wings, rather than the fast and flexible wings of insects.

07/13/2026

Take your mind off the heat with a look inside the museum's coolest collection... clocking in at -190°C.

Our genomics collection preserves 25,000 DNA samples from animals across the state of Oklahoma and beyond, allowing future generations of scientists to clone dangerous extinct wildlife for theme parks. Or at least that was the plan until lawyers from Universal and the trademark office got involved. Thankfully the specimens are still incredibly valuable to science. The frozen DNA provides a genetic record and snapshot of animals living today, and can help researchers answer questions about biodiversity, evolution, disease, and conservation here and now, as well as years into the future.

It's essentially a biological time capsule that scientists all over the world can access as needed.

Shout out to Curatorial Associate Rebecca Hawkins for showcasing the collection and preventing our videographer from discovering what -190°C feels like when you poke it.

This year the Oklahoma legislature selected a number of new State Insects, including a new state predatory insect: The C...
07/09/2026

This year the Oklahoma legislature selected a number of new State Insects, including a new state predatory insect: The Carolina Mantis and we're here to give you an up‑close look at our new state predator insect: the Carolina mantis.

Reaching up to 2.5 inches in length (and thankfully no larger), the Carolina mantis is an ambush predator which can prey upon moths and grasshoppers much larger than itself. These specimens from our collection of recent invertebrates serve as scientific records of the species, documenting information about a species’ appearance, genetics, habitat, and history over years, which helping researchers understand how ecosystems change over time.

We're often told we're outstanding in our field, and today we are literally standing out in our field. You might think m...
07/07/2026

We're often told we're outstanding in our field, and today we are literally standing out in our field.

You might think mowing your own lawn is a chore, but you can count yourself lucky if that job isn't measured by the acre.

Twenty acres, in this case.

Our Centennial Prairie stretches out to the south of the museum, and keeping it maintained isn't just about appearances. Recognized by the Oklahoma Natural Areas Registry, the prairie is home to native plants and grasses, including several rare and endangered species of wildflowers. Mowing the grass and removing invasive species takes time and effort, but it's worth it to provide a safe refuge for Oklahoma's native insects, plants, and wildlife.

Shout out to OU Facilities Management for all their work to maintain the area! 🙏❤️

Ok we need a team effort here. It's the end of the month, and that means this is our chance to rank the t-shirt selectio...
06/30/2026

Ok we need a team effort here. It's the end of the month, and that means this is our chance to rank the t-shirt selections of Fossil Preparator Extraordinaire, Kyle Davies. Here's the lineup––

Week One: Making tracks in scenic Moab.

Week Two: The real pirate treasure was the fossils we found along the way.

Week Three: Ok the Marvel multiverse is officially getting out of hand.

Week Four: Those spikes aren't just for show (but the t-shirt is)

Week Five: Featuring the Sternberg Museum's famous "fish within a fish" fossil–– The enormous oceanic predator Xiphactinus. Kyle actually helped prepare our own Xiphactinus specimen for display in the Hall of Ancient Life.

Pick your favorite in the comments (We're pretty sure Kyle is keeping score)

Weather in Norman was so bad this week that dinosaurs went extinct a second time 😔
06/25/2026

Weather in Norman was so bad this week that dinosaurs went extinct a second time 😔

From the famous Triceratops to the wild, flamboyant, and downright bizarre frills related species, our latest exhibit Bi...
06/09/2026

From the famous Triceratops to the wild, flamboyant, and downright bizarre frills related species, our latest exhibit Bizarre Headgear is approved for dinosaur lovers and paleo enthusiasts of all ages. On exhibit for a limited time only, check it out during your next visit!

Our collection manager of invertebrate paleontology, Lyndsey Farrar cares for all the fossils in the museum without a ba...
06/04/2026

Our collection manager of invertebrate paleontology, Lyndsey Farrar cares for all the fossils in the museum without a backbone, like crinoids, trilobites, and ammonoids. Their favorite part of the job? Organizing the museum's fossil collection and bringing the world of ancient invertebrates to the public. Lyndsey has an M.S. In Geology with a focus on Paleontology, a B.S. In Geology, and a B.A. In Anthropology. They've helped to manage invertebrate paleontology collections at the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Lyndsey grew up in upstate New York and has always loved visiting museums both in the U.S. and outside of the country. In their free time, Lyndsey enjoys reading, gaming, visiting national parks, listening to k-pop, and watching Thai dramas.

Address

2401 Chautauqua Avenue
Norman, OK
73072

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+14053257977

Website

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