Carnegie Museum of Natural History
One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Dig for fossils in a recreation of Dinosaur National Monument in Utah.
We cannot guarantee that Bone Hunter’s Quarry will be open during your visit. Please call (412) 622-3131 on the day you plan to visit for the most up to date information. We apologize for any inconvenience as our staff work to improve this experience.
HOURS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
– Saturdays 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
– Sundays 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Protective goggles are recommended.
Explore the wonders of the natural world in Discovery Basecamp, a permanent, hands-on gallery. Look at the coarseness of an African lion’s mane, buzz and dance like bees to learn how honeybees “talk” to each other, and explore a collection of rare and exciting specimens you can only find at a natural history museum. Zoom in on specimens on the Alcohol House touchscreen to examine reptiles and amphibians preserved in fluid. Watch a behind-the-scenes video from the Section of Mollusks and look at a display of shells. Discovery Basecamp is a bustling and lively gallery where you’re encouraged to slow down, look closely, and explore everything.
Parents can join the process of discovery, or relax and watch play-based learning unfold. The gallery also features comfortable seating and a private breastfeeding station, decorated with wallpaper depicting mother animals breastfeeding their babies designed by Pittsburgh artist and illustrator Ashley Cecil.
New specimens, activities, and programming are always being added, so there’s something new to discover with every visit.
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Plan an expedition to Dinosaurs in their Time—Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s core exhibition featuring real dinosaur fossils.
This exhibition is home to dozens of original fossils from throughout the Mesozoic Era displayed in scientifically accurate reconstructions of their ancient habitats.
About 75% of the more than 230 objects on display are original fossils from one of the finest paleontological collections in the world, and most of the exhibition’s dinosaur skeletons are real, not replicas. Several of these skeletons—including those of the iconic dinosaurs Apatosaurus louisae, Diplodocus carnegii, and Tyrannosaurus rex—are holotypes, the original specimens upon which their respective species are based.
In the many decades since the discovery of Diplodocus, scientific interpretations of dinosaurs and their lifestyles have changed dramatically. This exhibition uses up-to-date paleontological evidence—much of which has been provided by the museum’s own scientists—to accurately reconstruct the appearance and behavior of these colossal creatures.
For instance, we now know that Apatosaurus and Diplodocus (two famous long-necked dinosaurs) did not spend their lives wallowing in swamps and that predatory dinosaurs such as T. rex walked with their tails held off the ground and their backs horizontal. The three-horned Triceratops may have used its famous headgear more for display than for fighting, whereas some theropod dinosaurs (such as Anzu wyliei, the notorious “Chicken from Hell”) would have closely resembled their modern descendants—modern birds.
Many museum exhibitions group extinct species according to geologic time, but this exhibition takes this concept several steps further. In this exhibition, dinosaurs and other Mesozoic animals are shown in extraordinarily detailed reconstructions of their respective environments. Like the dinosaurs themselves, the habitats in this exhibition are firmly grounded in scientific evidence.
A panicked Apatosaurus smashes a small tree known from fossils found in the same Jurassic-aged rocks. A sculpted trackway of a hungry T. rex is based directly on the only known footprint of this terrifying meat-eater. The cat-sized Cretaceous mammal Didelphodon angrily confronts a much larger Triceratops. In short, in our museum’s exhibition, when dinosaur species are exhibited together, they actually lived together—their fossils are found in the same rock formations, and in many cases, the same quarries.
If you’re a fan of Harry Potter and other fantasy stories, you probably have read about many wondrous and otherworldly creatures that only exist in your imagination. You may have come across dragons that spit fire and rule the skies, sea creatures that live in the depths of dark waters, or trolls that live under bridges with vicious teeth and claws. But did you know that some of the fantastical creatures you’ve heard of in stories have counterparts in our world? Here are some creatures from the Harry Potter universe that are based on real life critters.
As you might imagine, these giant spiders are based on big, hairy spiders you can find in your backyard or in other places around the world. Specifically, the acromantula that you see in Harry Potter films were inspired by the wolf spider, which you can find in right here in western Pennsylvania! Other spiders that resemble acromantula include the huntsman spider often found in Australia and, of course, the tarantula – the hairiest and most famous of the three spiders. In fact, the world’s largest spider is a type of tarantula, the goliath bird-eating tarantula, which can reach up to one foot in length – although luckily not as large as a fifteen-foot acromantula.
Wait – how can a real animal be a fantastical creature? Well, as it turns out, salamanders have been surrounded by myth and legend since the time of the Roman Empire, when Pliny the Elder declared that salamanders could put out fires with their bodies and spit poisonous fluids. In the Harry Potter universe, salamanders are born and live in fires and can only survive as long as their birth fire continues to burn. In Pittsburgh, salamanders live in moist areas, such as near streams or in damp forests, because they need to keep their skin wet to breathe. In fact, there are over 20 species of salamander in Pennsylvania including the brightly colored Red Salamander and the yellow-flecked Spotted Salamander, both of which you can find in the western half of the state. Some good places to look for salamanders are in parks around the city – there’s even one in Fox Chapel Borough named Salamander Park!
In the Harry Potter world, bowtruckles are creatures that look like bark or twigs and guard trees used to make wands. They have sharp claws and are very protective of their habitats. In our world, stick insects mimic bark or twigs to blend into foliage, and while bowtruckles eat tree lice, stick insects are actually herbivores, with each species preferring particular leaves. Stick insects belong to the order Phasmatodea, which also includes leaf-bugs – creatures that mimic leaves as a form of camouflage.
One of the most famous mythical creatures in our world, dragons are ferocious creatures in the Harry Potter universe with big claws, big teeth, and the ability to breathe fire. While there are no real animals that breathe fire (as far as we know 😉), there are groups of extinct creatures who resembled dragons with sharp teeth, hooked claws, and, sometimes, scaly, lizard-like bodies. Some of these creatures even had wings! You guessed it – dinosaurs and pterosaurs! At the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, there are multiple dinosaur and pterosaur skeletons on display. Some skeletons reminiscent of dragons include two ferocious looking Tyrannosaurus rex and a large pterosaur called Quetzalcoatlus northropi that had a wingspan of up to 37 feet.
The Lutrinae who lived.
Explore nature together. Visit Nature 360 for activities and information.
Blog post by Melissa Cagan.
Discover the fascinating stories behind the dinosaurs in our renowned hall Dinosaurs in Their Time! Meet the real Dippy (Diplodocus carnegiei) type specimen that sparked people’s interests in paleontology around the world as well as a beloved Apatasaurus Andrew Carnegie named after his own wife.
Some of the most unique fossils can be found at Carnegie Museum of Natural History—let us guide you to them!
This tour typically meets at Paleolab on the first floor by the T. rex skull.
Discover the fascinating stories behind the dinosaurs in our renowned hall Dinosaurs in Their Time! Meet the real Dippy (Diplodocus carnegiei) type specimen that sparked people’s interests in paleontology around the world as well as a beloved Apatasaurus Andrew Carnegie named after his own wife.
Some of the most unique fossils can be found at Carnegie Museum of Natural History—let us guide you to them!
This tour typically meets at Paleolab on the first floor by the T. rex skull.
