Berkeley Natural History Museum is a museum dedicated to the natural history of the Bay Area. They offer many exhibits, including live animals and interactive displays that are fun for all ages. The Berkeley Nature Center provides an opportunity for hands-on exploration in the outdoors. Berkeley Natural History Museum offers events throughout the year, from summer camps and family workshops to festivals like their annual Insect Fair or Boo at the Zoo. There’s always something new happening at BNHM! Check out their website to see what’s coming up this week!

The Berkeley Natural History Museums date back to the period between 1880 and 1920, intertwined with a historic period when natural history and anthropology studies were passing from amateurs to professionals. At first, they collected as much material as possible in defiance of tidiness, but gradually refined their methods to focus on species that best elucidated human evolution. This enables visitors to get the advantage of the following:

  • Learn about prehistoric human evolution
  • Take a stroll through the halls of history and nature
  • Broaden your horizons with natural wonders

Aware that the landscape and people were in a state of flux, these early field workers sought to document it before it was lost. Inherited from pioneers like William Henry Holmes and John Wesley Powell who founded both the early U.S Bureau of American Ethnology and the US Geological Survey, this awareness led to an unparalleled period of growth for natural history when time-sensitive documentation became imperative.

There are three museums: the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, the University of California Museum of Paleontology, and the Lawrence Hall of Science. The first two museums house collections from all over the world in their halls while the third museum is more interactive with children and adults’ activities! They also have events like lectures, workshops, live animal presentations, etc. If you’re looking for an educational experience that is fun as well then this is your place! Visiting any of these museums is beneficial for the following reasons:

  • You can become educated on a variety of topics 
  • They have interactive exhibits that are great for all age groups 
  • You will encounter interesting talks, workshops, and events with knowledgeable individuals.
  • You’ll be able to visit three different museums in one location
  • You can get free admission to all three museums for the day
  • Children can get hands-on science experiments and play with live animals

If you are looking for a place to spend the day with your family, friends, or co-workers that is both educational and entertaining, then head over to the Berkeley Natural History Museums. With three museums in one location, it’s easy for visitors of all ages to get hands-on science experiments and play with live animals. While exploring the museum grounds, be sure not to miss out on visiting their interactive exhibits that are great for people of all age groups. So what are you waiting for? Visit today!

Berkeley, California is blessed with some of the Bay Area’s most fantastic museums.  Here’s a list of our favorites:

  • Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
  • Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
  • Museum of Paleontology
  • Essig Museum of Entomology Research
  • Lawrence Hall of Science
  • Aftel Archive of Curious Scents
  • Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles
  • Museum of Children’s Arts

All of these museums are located just a short distance from our location in downtown Berkeley, at 1935 Addison Street, Suite A!