An In-depth Introduction to Honey Bees Honey bees are an important part of our lives. They pollinate many flowers, help with fruit production, and of course make honey! So much more than a stinging insect, honey bees should be loved by all. Join local beekeeper Brian Grindle for an exploration into the lives of these […]

This event has been postponed until a later date. Kristi Curry-Rogers Macalester College

Hello from the Anthropocene: An Ant’s Eye View on Global Change Can a tiny, brown ant from one river basin in Argentina tell us about the Anthropocene? Come and find out how a humble, local perspective can be useful to scale up to understand the Anthropocene. A term that describes the current geological epoch, a […]

We’re offering special programming all day on May 18th to celebrate ICOM International Museum Day at Carnegie Museum of Natural History! This day has been recognized around the world since 1977 as a way to raise awareness for the importance of museums.

Learn more about the people, places and things that call PA home! Meet local experts studying native species and preserving local culture. Check out items in the collection that are unique to the area, and learn to identify all different kinds of nature in your own backyard.

Calling all Girl Scouts! Explore the big wide world of tiny bugs. Visit the museum to learn about what they eat, how they move, and where they live. Look closely at museum specimens, and watch real live bugs in action. Make your own butterfly, and draw a buggy poster! Brownies who complete the workshop will […]

Kristin Winchell University of Massachucetts, Boston “Novel habitat use and adaptation in urban lizards”

A City Built for a God: Archaeology at Antinoupolis The Roman emperor Hadrian’s trip down the Nile in 130 CE is infamous, not least because his companion–the Greek youth, Antinous–supposedly fell from their boat and drowned. Because of Egyptian beliefs, Antinous was deified after death, and Hadrian founded a city for the cult of the […]

Bears in Penn’s Woods We share Powdermill Nature Reserve with many wild animals, including black bears. Pennsylvania Game Commission Warden Andrew Harvey will tell us about bear population, habitat, and biology; living with bears; what to do if you encounter a bear; and how the PGC keeps track of them. After his presentation, Warden Harvey […]

Wander through our world-class Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition hall, dig for fossils in Bone Hunters' Quarry, and take part in hands-on, dinosaur-themed activities. Meet reptiles from the museum’s living collection, meet our dinosaur puppet, and watch Jurassic Park in the Earth Theater!

Sam and the Firefly The moon is up, and Sam the Owl is ready to play! When he pops out of his tree, though, everyone else is asleep. What’s an owl to do? Come listen to this story of Sam and his friend Gus the Firefly as they light up the night sky. After the […]

The Origin of Modern Birds: New Fossil Evidence from China and Antarctica Matthew C. Lamanna, Ph.D. Assistant Curator, Section of Vertebrate Paleontology Carnegie Museum of Natural History Comprising over 10,000 species, modern birds (Neornithes) are today’s most diverse group of land-living backboned animals. Nevertheless, the origins of these birds from toothed, long-tailed ancestors during the […]

Come explore the museum by night this summer at a special 21+ event that is all about witches, wizards, and magic in the natural world. The museum will host a slew of Hogwarts-inspired activities that invite you to step into the world of Harry Potter to brush up on “Potions,” “Care of Magical Creatures,” and […]

Nocturnal Insects Fireflies, moths, beetles, and more come out at night! Come hear Andrea Kautz, Powdermill’s Research Entomologist, talk about some of the insects we see at night. After a short presentation, we will head outside in search of these evening fliers. Please note the time change of 8:30 – 10 pm so that we […]

Did you know that paleontologists, botanists, zoologists, and many other scientists are studying nature and making discoveries at the museum? Meet real scientists, and learn more about what they do!

Our Stars Did you know that our Sun is actually a star? It is the star closest to us and can be found at the center of our solar system. We see the Sun during the day, and we see many other stars at night. Come learn more about Our Stars with us as we […]

Head out to Powdermill Nature Reserve for the annual Pollinator Festival! Explore Powdermill’s six gardens on your own or on a tour with one of our experts. Discuss cooperation and competition between plants and animals with Mike Slater. Learn all about the Pollinator Project at the Flight 93 Memorial with Andrea Kautz and hear Luke […]

Weather for Hikers, Hunters, and More! Tom Duran We are all affected by the weather, especially those of us who enjoy working and playing in the great outdoors. Join us for a talk from Tom Duran about the basic dos and don’ts when preparing for a day in the field. Tom will share some common […]