Playing “I Spy” at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, MA

The Harvard Museums of Science and Culture are a collection of four renowned museums on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The museum showcase the wide variety of collections of its members and donors and the ongoing research and work of Harvard educators, students, and curators. The largest museum, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, has 16 galleries spread across three floors (and the adjacent Peabody Museum) dedicated to dinosaurs, meteorites, gemstones, animals and insects in addition to several rotating exhibits. There are also several family programs and special events offered throughout the year that the whole family will enjoy.

Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Travel Tips:

  • The museum is open from 9am-5pm every day; get up to date information on hours, rates, and discounted admissions here. The museum is also part of Boston’s CityPASS, which is a great option if you’re visiting a lot of attractions throughout Boston.
  • There is metered street parking on Oxford Street; we parked in the Broadway Garage which was an easy five minute walk and reasonably priced. Information on Harvard parking garages here and information on the “T” (Boston’s public transportation system) and the Harvard Yard station here. 
  • Plenty of restrooms located on each floor; a coat check is located near the admissions desk on the first floor. The museum is handicap accessible via an elevator; strollers are allowed. Information on accessibility here.
  • There is a gift shop on the third floor that sells a variety of curated gifts and souvenirs, and great options for kids.
  • No dining options inside the museum but tons of options in and around Harvard Square– see this list and this list and this list for ideas. We had a great brunch (good food and VERY reasonably priced) at Russell House Tavern in the heart of Harvard Square.
  • Plan on at least two hours to fully explore all three floors of exhibits in the museum and Peabody Museum; more to explore adjacent museums. See museum maps here and here

Playing “I Spy” while touring the Museum:

  1. The Florida Tree Snail and beetle (there are over 350,000 spaces of beetles- the most diverse animal on the planet!) collections in the Evolution Exhibit.
  2. Various sea monsters in the Sea Monster exhibit. Learn about sea monsters that have been shared in print myths and films.
  3. The 42 foot long Kronosaurus in the exhibit. 
  4. The Ground Sloth, cousin to the armadillo, and other unique animals in the Paleontology exhibit, which also includes skeletons of horses dating back millions of years.
  5. The outline of the whale shark- 33 feet long- the largest shark in the Swimming with Sharks exhibit.
Kronosaurus dinosaur skeleton at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts

whale exhibit at Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts
  1. The simulated aquariums and ocean shores in the Marine Life exhibit.
  2. The massive skeletons of a sperm whale, fin whale, and North Atlantic Right Whale hanging from the ceiling in Great Mammal Hall. The two story hall includes dozens of taxidermy animals and the second level also has several collections of land birds and water birds (learn the differences!) and great aerial views of the displays on the lower level.
  3. A “Look *Listen*Touch*Smell” activity sheet in the New England Forest exhibit with lots of engaging activities. Download it here ahead of your visit.
  4. Over 800 lifesize models of 780 species of plants in the Blaschka Glass Flowers exhibit. The botanical models were created for the university between 1886 and 1936 and are stunningly accurate and detailed.
  5. A 1,600+ pound amethyst geode and a massive gypsum of crystals in the Earth Planetary Sciences exhibit. The exhibit also has minerals from every US state on display. 
Great Mammal Hall at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Great Mammal Hall at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, MA

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gem exhibit at at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Other Museums on Campus:

  • Connected to the Natural History Museum is the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, with public exhibits on the 4th, 3rd, and 1st floors that honor the museum’s 150th anniversary and celebrate Indigenous communities in Mexico, Central, and South America. There’s a display of fine china and place settings from Harvard’s 1913 freshman class dinner to celebrate the end of first year, Sitting Bull’s war club, artifacts from the 1893 Chicago world’s fair, and Maya hieroglyphs.
  • Just steps away from the Museum of Natural History and the Peabody Museum are the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, “home to over 40,000 artifacts from Harvard sponsored expeditions in Egypt, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Cyprus, and Tunisia”; and the Science Center’s Putnam Gallery of Collection of Scientific Instruments, home to one of the world’s largest collections of telescopes, clocks, and sundials. Note: Both museums are free to visit, but are closed on Saturdays. 

Looking for other adventures in nearby Boston? Check out our index of posts here and our Boston City Guide here. And don’t forget about our City Guides to Salem and Gloucester, a short drive north of Cambridge and Boston. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclosure: Our family was given a media pass to explore the museum; all opinions expressed are my own. 

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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