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Up to an hour

San Diego Natural History Museum

Get immersed in natural history and learn more about the world around you at the San Diego Natural History Museum, also known as The Nat.

Normal price: up to
$24.00
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Family-friendly
Indoors

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What you'll do

Immerse yourself in the wonders of the natural world at San Diego’s oldest museum! A staple in stunning Balboa Park, The Nat features regional, natural history and biodiversity of Southern and Baja California over a whopping five floors of exhibition space and more.

Enjoy permanent exhibitions, exciting films in the giant-screen theater, a robust calendar of events and activities and the opportunity to see scientists at work. Discover fascinating stories about our natural world when you pay a visit to The Nat!

 

San Diego Natural History Museum highlights

Amazement from the Basement

Discover the museum in a new light behind-the-scenes! Glimpse collections and research work and get a feel of what it's like to be a scientist at The Nat. You'll also get to take a look at the brand new Paleontology Center.

Coast to Cactus in Southern California

Explore southern California's coast and discover more about the abundant variety of life found there.

Extraordinary Ideas from Ordinary People: A History of Citizen Science

This exhibition explores the past, present and future of citizen science through rare books, art, photographs, and historical documents.

Fossil Mysteries

From dinosaurs to megalodons to mastodons, travel through 75 million years and dig into the rich fossil history of southern California and Baja California.

Living Lab

From nocturnal lizards to stinging scorpions, check out over 20 species of critters.

Unshelved: Cool Stuff from Storage

This exhibition gives visitors a rare look into the Museum's storage areas. Different specimens offer the opportunity to revel in the natural world in all its beauty and peculiarity.


What's included

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    Includes access to all permanent exhibits and films in the Giant Screen Theater.

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    Five floors of interactive exhibits to explore.




Where you'll meet

San Diego Natural History Museum entrances: the north side of the Museum near the giant tree is nearest to the Zoo; the south side of the museum near the fountain is closest to the other museums.

Operating hours

From Labor Day to Memorial Day:

10AM – 5PM Daily
10AM – 10PM Fridays through August 22 (Nat at Night)

All hours are subject to change. Please check The Nat’s website for the most up-to-date information on changes to the standard operating hours.

Closings & holidays

Closed August 14, 2025
Closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day

All hours are subject to change. Please check The Nat’s website for the most up-to-date information on changes to the standard operating hours.

 

Find out more

For more information and daily film schedule, visit the San Diego Natural History Museum website.

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