Natural History Museum of Utah451

Editor's note: The Utah Museum of Natural History is closed while it relocates to its amazing new building. We expect to see the museum re-opening its doors to the public in late 2011. Despite the fact that the museum is closed, spring and summer camps are being offered in the old building in spring and summer of 2011.


The Utah Museum of Natural History's collections in the fields of earth sciences, biology, and anthropology rank among the largest and most comprehensive for the western United States. While emphasizing the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, they also include material from throughout the world. But, frankly, when a kid sees a dinosaur skeleton for the first time, none of that really matters!

In addition to the museum's immense collection of dinosaur skeletons and taxidermied animals, families are impressed with the Bugs Alive exhibit, the museum's first permanent live collection. Bugs Alive features living arthropods and a puppet show area where kids can create their own buggy shows.

The museum offers Discovery Classes and Workshops for Kids. The two-hour classes cover a wide range of topics and offer hands-on activities and projects, and are appropriate for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. UMNH members receive discounted pricing. Check the website to find out more about these educational offerings.

Birthday parties are available for children ages four to 12 on Fridays and Saturdays. The museum provides themed party decorations, activities, crafts, goody bags, and a coordinator to host the party. All you need to do is bring the refreshments you would like served. Party themes include Magic Mixtures (ages seven to 12), Dinosaur Detectives (ages four to seven), and more. Parties run 90 minutes. A 50% deposit is required to reserve a party. The balance must be paid on the day of the party along with fees for any additional guests. UMNH accepts cash, checks, debit cards, and all major credit cards. [801.585.3948]

During the summer, UMNH offers Adventures in the Natural World Summer Camp - half and full-day week-long camps for kids entering kindergarten through fifth grade. The camp schedule is available in April of each year. [801.585.3948]

As if UMNH doesn't already offer enough "wow" appeal for kids, the museum is also where you'll find Dr. Scott, the paleontologist from the popular PBS series, Dinosaur Train. What we love about Dr. Scott is his excitement about paleontology, and how he practically bubbles over with this excitement as he talks to kids about dinosaurs. Dr. Scott also is quick to point out that paleontology is a field of study that largely advances through the work of volunteers, both in the field and in the lab. People must be at least 18 years old to volunteer at a dig site with UMNH, but younger teens can get started by working on the fossils in the museum's Fossil Prep Lab. Dino-enthusiastic younger kids can always go on the museum's family field trips and take UMNH classes to gain more experience as a budding paleontologist.

Family Membership are available; see the museum's website for details and pricing.