Extended Hours for Summer!
July and August
Open daily 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Visit dinosaurs, mastodons, and a host of Michigan wildlife seven days a week this summer!

Beginning July 1, the U-M Museum of Natural History will be open daily from 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. through August 31. (Closed Monday, July 4.)

Enjoy a movie or a star talk in the Planetarium & Dome Theater every afternoon, and on most weekends, you can do science in the Investigate Labs or catch a demonstration about becoming a fossil.

Escape the heat and feed your curiosity!

Public Programs
The museum is offering many free public programs this summer. Investigate fossils, teeth, bones, and more at Hands-On Discovery Stations while browsing the galleries. Experience scientific phenomena during public demonstrations in the Science Forum. Follow a guide on a museum highlights tour. Participate in experiments in our Nature and Micro Worlds Investigate Labs. The hours and availability of public programs may vary.

Science Forum Demos
Join us in the Science Forum for a 15-20 minute engaging science demonstration that will help you see the world in a whole new way. Demonstrations are free and appropriate for visitors ages 5 and older.

How to Become a Fossil
Saturdays & Sundays 3:00 p.m.
Schedule subject to change

Explore how fossils form and what parts of animals can become fossilized. How old are the earliest fossils? How old does something have to be before it is considered a fossil? You’ll touch some real fossils, learn the different types of fossil evidence, and discover what is necessary to become a fossil. Finally, we’ll discuss what kinds of things fossils can tell us, and how fossil casts are made in the museum.

Public Tours
These free tours are about 30 minutes long and are limited to 15 people per tour group. Sign up for a tour at the Welcome Desk. Visitors of all ages are welcome.

Museum Highlights Tour
Saturdays and Sundays
12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m.
Schedule subject to change

Learn about some of our most exciting exhibits and galleries like the Exploring Michigan gallery and Evolution: Life Through Time. Along with learning about the past, this tour will take a step into the future and explore cutting-edge research being done in the Biological Sciences Building every day.

Investigate Labs: Nature Lab & Micro Worlds Lab

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Schedule subject to change

Explore real research and use modern lab equipment with hands-on activities for adults and children in the museum's two Investigate Labs. Use state-of-the-art lab tools and techniques to explore topics ranging from the behavior of microscopic organisms to measuring animal bones.  Stop in for a facilitated experience or book a group program today!

Planetarium & Dome Theater
The new Planetarium & Dome Theater at the U-M Museum of Natural History transports visitors beyond distant stars and back in time from the comfort of reclining seats. Tickets are $8 for adults, seniors, and children age 3 and up. Babies without tickets may be required to sit on an adult’s lap. All ages are welcome. Tickets are available on the day of the show at the Museum Store. Schedule subject to change.

The planetarium is operating at half capacity to maximize distancing between viewers.

Daily
12:30 p.m.  Expedition Reef
1:30 p.m. Sky Tonight
2:30 p.m.  Tales of the Maya Skies
3:30 p.m. Sky Tonight

Expedition Reef
Learn the secrets of the “rainforests of the sea” as you embark on an oceanic safari of the world’s most vibrant—and endangered—marine ecosystems. Expedition Reef immerses you in an undersea adventure. Along the way, discover how corals grow, feed, reproduce, and support over 25% of all marine life on Earth.

Sky Tonight
A live presentation on what to find in the sky tonight and for the coming few weeks. This presentation includes how to find the cardinal directions on your own by finding the North Star, current and upcoming constellations, visible planets, a few deep sky objects depending on the season, and other interesting astronomical visualizations. If you want to be able to look up from your own backyard and know what to look for, this is the show for you.

Tales of the Maya Skies
Tales of the Maya Skies immerses viewers in the wonders of Maya science, cosmology and myth. This beautifully illustrated story takes us back in time to the jungles of Mexico to discover how Mayan scholars developed a sophisticated understanding of astronomy, architecture, and mathematics that enabled them to predict solstices, solar eclipses, weather patterns and planetary movements.

Book a group visit for your class or organization today! Check out the show options on our website. Look for “Planetarium & Dome Theater'' under “Presentations” for a complete list of show offerings. After deciding on a show, schedule your group visit here.

About the Museum

The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History is located in the Biological Sciences Building where we put the process of science on display, breaking down the boundaries between the public and research areas of our new building.

For more information, call 734.764.0480. Visit our website at ummnh.org.