Hi-Desert Nature Museum

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Hi-Desert Nature Museum Discover the natural science, cultural history, and artistic heritage of the Morongo Basin in Southern California at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.

Located in the Yucca Valley Community Center Complex. The Hi-Desert Nature Museum was founded in 1964 by Evelyn Conklin; her father, Percy Conklin; Camilla Hudson, a long-time resident; and Jerry Moore, Community Services Director of the Parks and Recreation District. Evelyn Conklin served as Curator of the museum for 28 years. With the incorporation of the Town of Yucca Valley in 1991, the museum became a division of the Community Services Department. The museum has always been a family-oriented facility whose original purpose was to display and educate residents and visitors about the desert environment. The original collections consisted primarily of gifts from the community-at-large. The museum started in an 800 square foot building in a local park. In 1973, it moved to its present location in the Yucca Valley Community Center Complex. In 1989, an expansion was added to house taxidermy specimens in diorama settings. For over 50 years the Hi-Desert Nature Museum has been dedicated to helping the citizens of the Morongo Basin and High Desert discover “with new eyes” the rich cultural heritage and natural history of this area. Generations of school children, students, and museum visitors have relied on the museum to inform, inspire, interpret, and entertain.

Have you heard the great news? The Hi-Desert Nature Museum has again been nominated for Best Family Activity in the Mor...
09/09/2026

Have you heard the great news? The Hi-Desert Nature Museum has again been nominated for Best Family Activity in the Morongo Basin!

With Family Fun Days, workshops, camps, lectures, and engaging exhibits, the Hi-Desert Nature Museum has something for everyone.

Please vote for the Museum today and every day until September 29th!
https://www.hidesertstar.com/bestof2026/ #/gallery/557405938

Pardon our dust! The Museum will be closed to the public from September 16th to October 6th for plumbing renovations. ...
09/08/2026

Pardon our dust! The Museum will be closed to the public from September 16th to October 6th for plumbing renovations.

We hope to see you when the Museum reopens on Wednesday, October 7th at 9:30 a.m.

Last workshop of the season!Escape the heat at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum's Desert Animal Figure Drawing Workshop!Augus...
08/25/2026

Last workshop of the season!

Escape the heat at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum's Desert Animal Figure Drawing Workshop!

August 27th
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free, all ages welcome!

This informal figure drawing workshop invites artists of all levels to study the forms, textures, and motions of desert animals up close—no desert heat required.

Settle in for an afternoon of observation, creativity, and quiet focus among the desert’s most fascinating inhabitants. Basic drawing materials will be provided!

No registration required, just drop in and draw. For more information, visit our website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org!

Tortoises have lived in the high desert since before the dinosaurs, emerging roughly 260 million years ago. Yet, their p...
08/21/2026

Tortoises have lived in the high desert since before the dinosaurs, emerging roughly 260 million years ago. Yet, their populations are shrinking rapidly. This informative lecture, presented by Ron Berger, President of the Desert Tortoise Conservancy, will explore why this is happening, and what is being done right here in California to ensure their populations start growing again.

Saturday, August 22, 2026
2:00 p.m.
Hi-Desert Nature Museum

This presentation is free and open to all ages. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Visit the Museum's website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org for more information!

Families are invited to a special Storytime at the Museum with special guest reader, Mayor Merl Abel, on Wednesday, Augu...
08/14/2026

Families are invited to a special Storytime at the Museum with special guest reader, Mayor Merl Abel, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.

Imagination and community come together for a morning of storytelling and hands-on creativity. During this event, Mayor Abel will read a turtle-themed children’s story, coinciding with the Museum’s current children’s summer exhibit, Turtle Travels. Following the reading, museum staff will lead a fun, interactive craft activity inspired by the story, giving children an opportunity to express their creativity and connect with the theme in a meaningful way.

The stories and crafts are best suited for families with children twelve years and younger, but all ages are welcome to attend. The event is free, and registration is not required. Visit the Museum’s website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org for more information regarding this event or to learn about other upcoming Museum programming.

Time is running out!Be sure to stop by the Hi-Desert Nature Museum by September 5th to catch this exciting exhibit!Step ...
08/05/2026

Time is running out!

Be sure to stop by the Hi-Desert Nature Museum by September 5th to catch this exciting exhibit!

Step onto the giant game board, grab a tortoise game piece, and give the spinner a whirl to begin your turtle journey. Before you reach the finish line, visit each interactive station to learn about how to protect turtles from the hazards they face. Find out what it’s like for a turtle trying to cross a road or traverse changing habitats. Be a turtle tracker and see how real field biologists track animals in the wild. Trek along this turtle terrain and you’ll find out that slow and steady not only wins the race, but takes turtles on some amazing journeys!

Turtle Travels was developed by the Environmental Exhibit Collaborative (EEC) and funded by Jane’s Trust and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and produced by Ecotarium (Worcester, MA) in partnership with the Sciencenter (Ithaca, NY).

Join Petra from The Sound Mind Garden for a relaxing hour of immersive sound bath experience at the Hi-Desert Nature Mus...
07/23/2026

Join Petra from The Sound Mind Garden for a relaxing hour of immersive sound bath experience at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum.

Friday, August 14, 2026

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. -
Doors open at 5:40 p.m. and close promptly at 6:05 p.m. Please be sure to arrive on time!

$15 per person, Ages 15+

Space is limited, and registration is required.

For more information or to register, visit our website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org.

Escape the heat every Thursday in August at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum's Desert Animal Figure Drawing Workshops!August ...
07/23/2026

Escape the heat every Thursday in August at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum's Desert Animal Figure Drawing Workshops!

August 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Free, all ages welcome!

These informal figure drawing workshops invite artists of all levels to study the forms, textures, and motions of desert animals up close—no desert heat required.

Settle in for an afternoon of observation, creativity, and quiet focus among the desert’s most fascinating inhabitants. Basic drawing materials will be provided!

No registration required, just drop in and draw.

For more information, visit our website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org!

The Hi-Desert Nature Museum will be closed on Saturday, July 4th in honor of Independence Day! The Museum will reopen w...
06/25/2026

The Hi-Desert Nature Museum will be closed on Saturday, July 4th in honor of Independence Day! The Museum will reopen with normal operating hours on Wednesday, July 8th at 9:30 a.m.

Only a few spots remain!On July 15-17 (ages 7-9) and July 24-26 (ages 10-12), campers can experience "Ectotherm Extravag...
06/25/2026

Only a few spots remain!

On July 15-17 (ages 7-9) and July 24-26 (ages 10-12), campers can experience "Ectotherm Extravaganza" and take a deep dive into the world of reptiles.

Campers will get up close and personal with some scaly ambassadors from the museum’s living collection and discover the amazing adaptations snakes, lizards and tortoises have that allow them to thrive in some of the world’s most extreme environments.

Camp is $50 per camper for the three-day experience. Each camp runs Wednesday through Friday from 9:30am-12:30pm. Visit the museum's website at www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org for more information or to register!

Address

57090 Twentynine Palms Highway
Yucca Valley, CA
92284

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

(760) 369-7212

Website

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