San Diego Natural History Museum Museum

Address: 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Website: https://www.sdnhm.org/

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Mon closed (hours may vary for special exhibits)

Admission: Adult general admission approx. $19 (prices vary by exhibit and film)

San Diego Natural History Museum is a natural history museum located in Balboa Park, San Diego, focused on the geology, paleontology, and biodiversity of Southern California and Baja California. It operates research and education programs in addition to public exhibitions.

Permanent galleries interpret regional fossils, local ecosystems, and natural history topics through specimens, displays and some interactive exhibits aimed at families. The museum also mounts temporary exhibitions and hosts public programs and field trip offerings.

The organization traces its roots to a late-19th-century scientific society and has grown into a museum and research institution that collects and studies regional specimens. Its building and public presence in Balboa Park connect it to the parks cluster of cultural institutions.

The museum is located within Balboa Park in central San Diego, near Park Boulevard and close to the San Diego Zoo and other museums and gardens.

• Balboa Park setting: Located inside Balboa Park, the museum is adjacent to other cultural institutions and the San Diego Zoo, making it easy to combine visits.
• Family friendly: Family-oriented exhibits and hands-on discovery areas make the museum suitable for children and school groups.

What to See#

• Fossil halls: Fossil and paleontology halls that interpret regional prehistoric life and display vertebrate fossils recovered from Southern California.
• Regional natural history galleries: Exhibits on regional biodiversity and geology that explain San Diego Countys natural history, including interactive displays for families.
• Research and education facilities: Education and research facilities, including a research library and labs used for collections study and public programs.

The museum is in Balboa Park at El Prado. From downtown San Diego take Route 7 bus or a short Lyft/drive (about 5-10 minutes). Paid parking is available in Balboa Park lots; the parking situation is busiest on weekends.

• Book IMAX or special exhibition tickets in advance for weekend afternoons.
• Start on the top floor-the exhibits are laid out chronologically and that route gives a calm introduction before busier lower galleries.
• Use the park's tram stop routes to reach nearby Balboa Park attractions to avoid walking long distances between museums.