Museum · Balboa Park
San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El Prado, San Diego 92101
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The San Diego Natural History Museum, known as The Nat, sits in the heart of Balboa Park and is one of the oldest scientific institutions in the West. It shows Southern California and Baja California fossils, minerals, skulls and living animals, plus a rotating temporary exhibition. On Fridays it hosts Nat at Night evenings in the gallery.
Permanent exhibitions
- Amazement in the Basement (collection specimens and the new Paleontology Center)
- Nature Trail at The Nat (native-plant gardens around the building)
- Expedition Baja (Baja California Peninsula)
- Living Lab (live reptiles and insects)
- Hidden Gems (minerals)
- Fossil Mysteries (local fossils)
- Collection Highlights
- Coast to Cactus in Southern California
- Extraordinary Ideas from Ordinary People: A History of Citizen Science
- Science Spotlight: Baleen Whale Evolution
- The Backyard (play space for young children)
- Skulls (animal skulls)
- Moreton Bay Fig Tree
- Foucault Pendulum
