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. The fantastical limestone animals have suffered serious erosion since their installation in 1903 when Dyche Hall was built.

KU has awarded the contract for carving new grotesques to Ramberg Stoneworks, in collaboration with the KU School of Architecture and Design. A fundraising effort is underway to raise $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.

 

Announcing the Summer 2018 BugBlitz Youth Photography Competition Winners!

See the winning images here, and learn about our upcoming Fall photography competition.

Bird

Bird is the Word

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which has protected millions of birds from harm. Join us for a talk by Ornithology Curators Town Peterson and Rob Moyle about birds and conservation at 7 pm Wednesday, Sept. 5. Full details about all of our programs are on our events page.

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. 

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.