Dinosaurs make good movie characters, and so do paleontologists! Find out what’s fake in some prehistoric film scenes and see where the real science shines through. Hear about the most recent discoveries in this fascinating field and ask museum staff your most pressing questions about the flora and fauna that inhabited one of the most […]

How do we show our Pittsburgh pride? Bring on the black and gold! Discover local plants, birds, and bugs that use dazzling black and gold patterns to create their own homefield advantage. Connect with Pittsburgh’s mineral and industrial history in a museum scavenger hunt. Panthers, penguins, parrots and more – get ready to rally for […]

Looking for family-friendly things to do for Halloween? Join us for Booseum Trick-or-Treat! Costumes are encouraged for a nature-themed Halloween celebration! Travel through the museum’s haunted halls to find creepy specimens. Friendly museum staff will help you take a closer look at things that might seem scary at first, like spiders and skeletons. Search for […]

Nature often outsmarts us! Gather under the baobab tree to learn how animal ingenuity thrives within this ecological niche. Discover amazing feats of engineering within the natural world that humans have tried, and often failed, to recreate with technology. Get inspired by creative ways animals use tools and discover how biomimicry is paving the way […]

The days may be short on sunlight, but we’re going big on science! Explore qualities of light and luster across the natural world from the glitter of gems to the shine of an insect wing. Learn how animals adapt to thrive in the darkness. Compare cozy survival strategies that help animals and people weather the […]

Feeling the chill? Warm up in the snow house in Polar World: Wyckoff Hall of Arctic Life and hear stories of how the Inuit people survive and thrive in the Arctic. See how museum professionals use the freezing process to conserve objects and specimens in our care. Celebrate “Polar Bear Birthday Season” by signing our […]

Are you ready to change the world? Celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science by exploring how women, girls, and non-binary people have used their insights and perspectives to make groundbreaking discoveries and advocate for a sustainable future. Experiment with activities inspired by the research of women at the museum. Talk directly with […]

Investigate the patterns, shapes, and colors all around us. Use this inspiration to create artwork in your own sketchbook (while supplies last). Explore the dazzling spectrum that helps insects, mammals and many other animals thrive in their environments. See if you can find where Waldo, the Jackson’s chameleon, and Bluey, the blue-tongued skink, the museum’s […]

Looking for family-friendly spring-themed activities? Join us for Egg-stravaganza! The egg-citement returns with our annual springtime scavenger hunt and an egg-cellent line-up of things to do with kids! From tiny insects to giant dinosaurs, the museum has eggs and nests of all shapes and sizes to discover. Can you find them all? Follow egg-themed clues […]

Did you know that May 18 is Pennsylvania Native Species Day? Learn about nature that’s a little closer to home—identify different local animal species by their tracks and scat, meet scientists from the Section of Invertebrate Paleontology with examples of Pittsburgh's own backyard fossils, learn how our friends at Powdermill Nature Reserve band thousands of […]

Join museum staff to explore everything microscopic and unseen! Have you ever wondered how scientists study things too small to see? Meet Madagascar hissing cockroaches Woodrow and Franklin and look for the symbiotic mites that live on roaches. Try the scientific tools our researchers use to see more than meets the eye. Follow a scavenger […]

Something big is coming! Take a closer look at some of the largest specimens in our collection, from mammoths to giant geodes. Learn how our planet has supported enormous organisms like T. Rexes and sequoias throughout geologic time and up to today. How do humans stack up to these titans? Join us to see how […]

Looking for family-friendly activities to do for Halloween? Costumes are encouraged for a nature-themed Halloween celebration! Investigate seasonal specimens that are not usually on display, including jumping spiders, hairy tarantulas, and Fred, our famous crystal skull. Follow a scavenger hunt through the museum’s haunted halls while looking for clues and earning stamps along the way, […]

Animals may not talk, but they have much to share! From seismic elephant vibrations to silverback gorilla body postures, from scent-marking cats to dancing insects, the world around us is constantly communicating. And we can help you tune in! Some birds have learned to mimic human sounds; can you tell the difference between the real […]

Museum scientists have been working hard all year, traveling near and far to conduct field research and contribute to the newest science! Follow your “Tales of the Field Passport” to meet participating scientists and claim a goodie bag of field work essentials like a notebook, pencil, and compass. Add your dream research destination to a […]

From a sidewalk crack teeming with plant life to majestic birds of prey soaring over our three rivers, nature is everywhere in the Burgh! Examine how tech can help you look for wildlife high and low. Investigate the biodiversity of Pittsburgh and learn how organisms are thriving in and around the Steel City. Sponsors Super […]