Natural History Museum of Utah Museum

Address: 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA

Website: https://nhmu.utah.edu/

The Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City is a regional natural history museum affiliated with the University of Utah, housed in a purpose-built facility that opened in 2011. It presents geological, paleontological, anthropological and ecological collections focused on Utah and the Intermountain West.

Exhibition halls cover deep-time paleontology with mounted fossils, regional ecosystems including the Great Salt Lake and displays on human-environment interactions. The building’s elevated site provides expansive views over the Salt Lake Valley and is integrated with outdoor learning spaces and trails. Galleries combine permanent scientific displays with rotating temporary exhibitions and hands-on discovery areas for families and school groups.

The museum was developed by the University of Utah to centralize and display its natural history collections and to expand public education; the new building opened in 2011 to house expanded exhibit space and research facilities. Its collections include long-established paleontological and anthropological holdings built through fieldwork in the region.

Perched on the foothills adjacent to the University of Utah campus, the museum overlooks Salt Lake City and the valley; it is a short drive from downtown Salt Lake City and linked by local roads and transit.

• Building and views: The museum building opened in 2011 and sits on a hillside overlooking Salt Lake Valley, offering panoramic views from several galleries.
• Research and education: Extensive educational programs and field-research collections support university-affiliated research in paleontology and regional natural history.

What to See#

• Past Worlds (fossils): Past Worlds gallery presenting fossil skeletons and paleontological exhibits that chart vertebrate evolution over geological time.
• Great Salt Lake gallery: Great Salt Lake and regional ecosystems gallery with displays explaining the lake’s geology, ecology and human interactions.
• Discovery and temporary exhibits: Hands-on discovery spaces and rotating temporary exhibition halls designed for educational programs and family visits.

• Go early on a weekday to avoid school groups and enjoy the terrace views over Salt Lake City before peak hours; afternoons often get busier.
• Plan time to watch the visible fossil‑preparation and behind‑the‑scenes areas (when open) and to visit any special exhibitions-these are frequent highlights that many visitors skip.
• Buy tickets online for special exhibitions, IMAX/planetarium shows or timed-entry slots to guarantee access during busy periods.