Behind the Scenes Tour: The Alcohol House - Sold Out
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
When: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: $25 (Museum admission not included.)
Visitors ages 18+ are invited to join Dr. Jennifer Sheridan, Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles, in the Alcohol House. This three-story space contains thousands of amphibians and reptiles preserved in alcohol ranging from the smallest frogs to enormous sea turtles. Learn about Dr. Sheridan’s research on Bornean frogs and ask her your best questions. Sign up today! Spots are limited to 8 people per tour.
Please note: Tour participants must be able to climb stairs and navigate narrow aisles. If you have any concerns regarding accessibility, please email us.
Purchase Tickets for Behind the Scenes Tour: The Alcohol House
Choose your time and purchase your ticket below. Tours meet in the front lobby across from the Admissions Desk and will depart for collections spaces promptly at the tour start time.
By popular demand, Behind the Scenes Tour: The Alcohol House tickets are now sold out. Sign-up for our email list to be among the first to learn about upcoming events and programs.

Behind the Scenes Tours are part of NatureFest! Purchase general admission for March 21 to enjoy the museum and NatureFest before and after your tour.

Behind the Scenes Tour: Herbarium - Sold Out
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00
When: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: $25 (Museum admission not included.)
Visitors ages 18+ are invited to join Dr. Mason Heberling, Curator of Botany, in the Herbarium. This spaces houses more than 500,000 plant specimens in rows upon rows of cabinets. You’ll see herbarium specimens up close and learn why collecting and maintaining specimens in herbaria is critical for research in this time of significant environmental change. Learn about Dr. Heberling’s research and get your botany questions answered. Sign up today! Spots are limited to 8 people per tour.
Please note: To participate in the Herbarium tour, participants will need to navigate a short flight of stairs. If you have any concerns regarding accessibility, please email us.
Purchase Tickets for Behind the Scenes Tour: Herbarium
Choose your time and purchase your ticket below. Tours meet in the front lobby across from the Admissions Desk and will depart for collections spaces promptly at the tour start time.
By popular demand, Behind the Scenes Tour: Herbarium tickets are now sold out. Sign-up for our email list to be among the first to learn about upcoming events and programs.
Behind the Scenes Tours are part of NatureFest! Purchase general admission for March 21 to enjoy the museum and NatureFest before and after your tour.

NatureFest
2026-03-21 10:00 - 17:00
When: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Tickets: Included with Purchase of Museum Admission
Get Tickets →
Explore the vibrant voices of the natural world at our second annual NatureFest! From animal communication and natural soundscapes, to human-made instruments crafted from natural materials, this one-day celebration invites you to tune in to nature with the expertise of our scientists, educators, musicians, and community partners. Browse the full schedule below and plan your day. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly day out or a deep dive into the science of sound, NatureFest offers activities for curious explorers of all ages.
NatureFest Schedule
Family-Friendly Activities: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., drop-in any time
Enjoy hands-on activities for kids of all ages and their families that explore sound in nature and culture. From dinosaur sounds to Bornean frog calls, there’s so much to hear, see, and discover at NatureFest!
Dinosaur Sounds: What might dinosaurs have sounded like? How well could dinosaurs hear? Investigate dinosaur anatomy to answer your burning questions about their vocalization and hearing abilities.
Animal Chatter: Do animals “talk”? Discover the conversational capabilities of birds and other incredible creatures.
Frog Calls: Learn to identify a range of frog calls and hear the latest on frog research happening in Borneo.
Seeing Sound: Compare ultrasound graphs of bird calls and learn to identify them visibly.
Get Ready for Summer Camps: Meet members of our Summer Camps team, try a favorite camp activity, and find out how to register for 2026 camps.
City Nature Challenge: Learn how you can participate in this global bioblitz.
Animal Sounds Storytime: 10:15–11:00 a.m.
Join Natural History Interpreters in Earth Theater to hear stories featuring animal sounds. Perfect for young science explorers.
Visible Lab Q&A with Museum Experts: 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Visit the Visible Lab within The Stories We Keep: Bringing the World to Pittsburgh anytime during NatureFest to see conservation and collections staff at work. To chat with staff and get your burning questions answered, make sure to stop by during designated Q&A times.
Mark Your Calendar for NatureFest
Purchase of museum admission is required to attend NatureFest. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. Advance purchase is strongly recommended. Make sure to select March 21, 2026 for admission to NatureFest. Get Tickets →
Highlights from NatureFest 2025

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Testing the “Sixth Sense” of Anuran Amphibians
2026-04-09 18:00 - 19:00
Talk: Testing the “Sixth Sense” of Anuran Amphibians
Speaker: Dr. Rafael Marquez, Senior Researcher, Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales
When: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom; Reception to follow in Café Carnegie
Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required.
Anuran amphibians (adult frogs and toads) have a very unique adaptation of the inner ear that detects vibrations from soil, water, and plants. Dr. Rafael Marquez, Senior Researcher at the Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales in Spain, will describe field tests with the emissions of vibrations to shed light on the selective advantage of this seismic detector.
Please join us for a reception in Café Carnegie immediately following the seminar.
Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Register here to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.

Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars
Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.

R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Lightning Talks from Carnegie Museum Scientists
2026-05-07 18:00 - 19:00
Natural History in a Flash: Lightning Talks from Carnegie Museum Scientists
When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom; Reception to follow in Café Carnegie
Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required.
Meet a variety of Carnegie Museum of Natural History scientists in charge of the museum’s contemporary research and vast collections of specimens and objects. Join us for quick talks that highlight research and scientific activities happening daily at the museum and stay after the talks to interact with CMNH Science staff in a fun, informal setting.
Please join us for a reception in Café Carnegie immediately following the seminar.
Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars. Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.
