San Diego Natural History Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum The Nat is —past, present, and future. Working to conserve nature through science and discovery. https://linktr.ee/thenat
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Our Mission: To interpret the natural world through research, education and exhibits; to promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of southern California and the peninsula of Baja California; and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment. The Nat has five floors of exhibitions, a giant-screen theater, and San Diego’s only Foucault pendulum. Through its permanent collect

ion, special exhibitions, numerous educational programs, and the opportunity to see scientists at work, the Museum fosters in visitors of all ages a lifelong love of learning about nature and the environment. For current exhibitions:
http://www.sdnat.org/currentexhibitions

For hours and admission prices:
http://www.sdnat.org/visit/admission/

For theater schedule:
http://www.sdnat.org/giantscreentheater

For membership information:
http://www.sdnat.org/membership

Host a private event at the Museum:
https://www.sdnat.org/plan-an-event/

06/16/2026

We love your curiosity (and our team loves sharing facts). Share your favorite fact you’ve learned at The Nat in the comments! ⬇️

06/08/2026

Plastics are in every marine ecosystem, including San Diego’s famed coastlines and waterways. These sculptures by the Washed Ashore Art Project serve as a reminder of the impact we have on nature—and how community art can make a difference.

Learn more about the effects of plastic pollution in Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, on view through February 2027.

Got plan(t)s Saturday, June 20? Join us for our annual free Garden Fair from 10 AM–2 PM outside The Nat. 🌱  Meet local c...
06/07/2026

Got plan(t)s Saturday, June 20? Join us for our annual free Garden Fair from 10 AM–2 PM outside The Nat. 🌱 
 
Meet local conservation groups and garden experts, find out which plants attract our native pollinators, and participate in hands-on educational activities and giveaways (native milkweed!). Then, 🐝 bee 🐝 sure to head inside the Museum for a plant sale with , pollinator inspired drinks, and specialty bites from .  
 

06/04/2026

Jon’s been at The Nat 30 years (and it shows). How many iNat observations and identifications has he made? Comment your guess before the answer is revealed 👇 

Next Sunday, June 14 is the perfect day to visit The Nat—bones, barnacles, and brunch. That’s right. Brunch. 🥂 Once you’...
06/04/2026

Next Sunday, June 14 is the perfect day to visit The Nat—bones, barnacles, and brunch. That’s right. Brunch. 🥂

Once you’re done exploring the exhibitions, head to the rooftop for an experience similar to Nat at Night: casual vibes, open seating, and food and beverage available for a la carte purchase. Enjoy a curated selection of brunch tapas from Wolfish (by ) and craft cocktails and mocktails from 10 AM–2:30 PM. And of course, sweeping views of San Diego and Balboa Park.

Can’t make it on the 14th? Don't sweat it. We’ll be hosting two more Sunday brunches on July 12 and August 9. For more details and to learn about VIP experiences that include an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour (👀), click here: https://buff.ly/Yx4GxXY

Museum admission required. Members and Explorer passholders enjoy free general admission.

Raise your hand if you’ve judged a pile of kelp sitting on the beach. ✋ (It’s okay, we’ve all been there). While it mig...
06/03/2026

Raise your hand if you’ve judged a pile of kelp sitting on the beach. ✋ (It’s okay, we’ve all been there).

While it might look unappealing clumped in the surf and sand, beneath the ocean’s surface, giant kelp forests are some of the most crucial habitats on Earth. These ecosystems sequester carbon, provide food, offer refuge to marine animals from predators, and make great fish nurseries.

Does that washed-up kelp seem a little more interesting now? Well, on Thursday, June 11, Oriana Poindexter, marine scientist and artist, will ~kelp~ us turn you into a seaweed forest lover with her immersive Nat Talk, Into the Blue: San Diego’s Underwater Forests. Embark on a visual adventure through a collection of specimens, photographs, and striking art displays. You’ll most certainly leave ready to profess the wonders of kelp to your friends and family.

Poindexter’s work has been published by Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and exhibited in museums and aquariums throughout California.

Tickets are $15 for non-members, and $12 for members. Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Click here to learn more: sdnhm.org/calendar/nattalks-and-films/

After June, our San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers take a much-needed summer break from guiding naturalist hike...
06/03/2026

After June, our San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers take a much-needed summer break from guiding naturalist hikes all over San Diego County. There are still three more hikes that you can participate in to learn about our local biodiversity:

☀️ Choose your adventure for an easy (3-mile) or intermediate (5-mile) scenic hike at Blue Sky Ecological Reserve this Saturday, June 6.
🏞️ Explore shorebirds and coastal plant life during an easy, family-friendly hike at Batiquitos Lagoon on Sunday, June 14.
🥾 Bid farewell to our Canyoneers during their last hike of the season at William Heise County Park where you could see deer, wild turkey, and other wildlife on Saturday, June 20.

See you there?

05/26/2026

Breaking news: San Diego is officially home to the banana slug. Thanks to our collaborators at and !

It's finally here! Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea is officially open. 🦀We invite you to explore the depths of plasti...
05/22/2026

It's finally here! Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea is officially open. 🦀

We invite you to explore the depths of plastic pollution through thoughtfully crafted marine sculptures made from 60,000 pounds of trash collected from beaches by the Washed Ashore Art Project.

Starting tonight, the gallery will transform into a dive bar every Friday during Nat at Night. Enjoy a craft beer, grab a bite from our Wol-Fish commissary by Wolf in the Woods, and chat with our very own Frances Lang—a specialist in marine and coastal sciences.

Trash that is truly worth seeing. Tickets available for purchase in person or online here: https://buff.ly/RPaaEGb

🎉That feeling you get when paid parking gets repealed.🎉We are heartened by yesterday’s news and grateful to everyone who...
05/21/2026

🎉That feeling you get when paid parking gets repealed.🎉

We are heartened by yesterday’s news and grateful to everyone who spoke up loudly and clearly for Balboa Park. The public’s response has been extraordinary and is a powerful reminder of how beloved this place truly is.

Address

1788 El Prado
San Diego, CA
92101

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+16192323821

Website

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