NOTICE: The museum will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 13th due to a scheduled campus water outage.

Fall 2018 BugBlitz Youth Photography Contest

Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 11, 2018, 5 p.m.

Do you enjoy taking nature photographs, especially of insects? Are you new to nature photography? Either way, this contest is for you! Youth are encouraged to submit photos for the KU NHM’s Fall 2018 BugBlitz Photography Contest.

More information available here

museum grotesques

The Grotesques Renew Project

Combining the old arts of stonecraft and sketching with modern 3D imaging, the KU Natural History Museum is launching an effort to replace its iconic grotesques.  

The mythical beasts that adorned Dyche Hall were removed in fall 2017, crated and placed on view in museum. 

We are raising $150,000 to recreate the sculptures and place them back on their pedestals on Dyche Hall. To date, $20,000 has been raised for the project. To support creation of the new grotesques, please consider giving to the Grotesques Renew fund at KU Endowment.

 

Fifth Floor Closed

The fifth floor gallery that includes Explore Evolution is closed for fall 2018 while we make improvements to make the area more accessible. 

Upcoming events

Please search calendar.ku.edu for more info:

Crimson & Blue Day
Friday, October 12, 10am - 3pm
Prospective KU students visiting campus are welcome to come to the museum to enjoy a scavenger hunt or a behind the scenes tour.

Discovery Day: Deciduous Forests
Sunday, October 14, 1-4pm
It’s fall! Come to the museum to explore all about deciduous forests – the animals and plants and how they interact to form a biome. We’ll have specimens on display, hands-on activities, and scavenger hunts for the entire family.

Science on Tap: Coyote Sense
Wednesday, October 17, 7:30pm
Using a narrative approach to environmental studies,  Sara Gregg will use the coyote’s place in Kansas combined with geomorphology and biodiversity, to explore new strategies for conveying the deeply local context of mammalian interactions with the land.

Fun things to do at the museum

Explore the museum

We offer more than a dozen scavanger hunts, museum checklists and even limericks to help you explore the museum. Download one before you arrive, or pick one up near the museum lobby. 

School workshops

Book a school program

The KU Natural History Museum offers a variety of science education programs for school groups. Explore our available programs taught by museum education professionials and book yours for fall and spring by calling 785.864.4173. Scholarships available.



Get your museum passport

Museum members provide critical support for our exhibits, education and programs. They also have access to free admission to more than 300 museums and science centers worldwide. Join today to start using your own museum passport.