The museum was established in 1998 as the public face of three research museums: the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Harvard University Herbaria, and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum. The museum is beautifully cool and an oasis on a hot day. The beetle/spider exhibition is particularly fascinating. There are special exhibitions, at the time of our visit (Aug 2010) there was the Headgear exhibition: The Natural History of Horns and Antlers. There is a permanent evolution exhibition with displays of diversity within species, computer simulation of natural selection and a look at current research. There is a museum shop and weekend gallery visits which include hands-on activities with trained gallery guides.
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.
www.hmnh.harvard.edu/
Open 9-5 daily with adult admission at $9, children $6 with concessions for students and seniors
Google map: tinyurl.com/37qkmks