The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History

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Recognize this guy? 🦞👀While lighting upgrades continue throughout the Diversity of Life exhibits on the ground floor of ...
05/29/2026

Recognize this guy? 🦞👀

While lighting upgrades continue throughout the Diversity of Life exhibits on the ground floor of Macbride Hall, and cases are open, it’s the perfect time for our collections team to give some specimens a little extra TLC ✨

Be sure to stop by and see him next time you visit!

Great news, guys. We do not appear in web search results for "bad taxidermy." Come visit and see for yourself. 👀Museum o...
05/18/2026

Great news, guys. We do not appear in web search results for "bad taxidermy." Come visit and see for yourself. 👀

Museum of Natural History
Iowa City, Iowa
Free admission
Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Before “thrifting” was a trend, it was a necessity. Have you visited the Old Capitol Museum's latest installation yet? T...
05/17/2026

Before “thrifting” was a trend, it was a necessity.

Have you visited the Old Capitol Museum's latest installation yet? Thrift Style is on display now through August 11th. Check out some featured pieces here and come see the full display in person.

This exhibition explores how everyday feed sacks were transformed into dresses, aprons, quilts, toys, and other household essentials during the Great Depression and World War II. Featuring 41 objects, from sewing patterns to finished garments, we highlight the ingenuity of making do, making over, and making something beautiful from what's available. It’s a story of creativity and resilience that still resonates in today’s conversations about sustainability, reuse, and resourcefulness, and it's ready to view now.

Come see what looked like, long before it was a

Last day of finals! Rusty says it's summer. ☀️Our new hours begin soon! Visit this summer Wednesday–Saturday from 10:00 ...
05/15/2026

Last day of finals! Rusty says it's summer. ☀️

Our new hours begin soon! Visit this summer Wednesday–Saturday from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and catch our final Sunday hours THIS Sunday (May 17th) from 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

And remember, no matter the season or the hours...admission is always FREE 😉

(elder millennial googles what gen-z might say for this trend before scheduling post 🫠)
05/14/2026

(elder millennial googles what gen-z might say for this trend before scheduling post 🫠)

Alright, fam. How are finals and move out and summer transitions going?If you've visited during a Study Hall at the Muse...
05/13/2026

Alright, fam. How are finals and move out and summer transitions going?

If you've visited during a Study Hall at the Museum of Natural History (Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. - noon, done for the summer but resuming in Fall), you may have already snagged one of these absolutely perfect "Rusty Affirmation Cards." Send a digital version to a pal who needs it or just keep it for yourself. You're almost to the finish line!

🥳 TODAY'S THE DAY!Happy Birthday to our special boy, Rusty the Giant Sloth! We're celebrating this king today from 5:00 ...
05/11/2026

🥳 TODAY'S THE DAY!

Happy Birthday to our special boy, Rusty the Giant Sloth! We're celebrating this king today from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with cake, games, fun facts, and more. At 6:00 p.m. sharp, we'll have another beloved mascot onsite, , and members of the Hawkeye Marching Band, so don't miss it!

Last week in Iowa Hall we had the honor of installing two new ceramic vessels by artist Reuben Ironhorse-Kent in the Nat...
05/09/2026

Last week in Iowa Hall we had the honor of installing two new ceramic vessels by artist Reuben Ironhorse-Kent in the Native Cultures gallery. With the case open, some special guests experienced the installation in real time, a rare behind-the-scenes moment to connect more closely with the work, hear from the artist, and our director, Liz Crooks.

Reuben is an award-winning contemporary Native American artist, storyteller, and musician, affiliated with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. His creations, now on display, carry forward the Iowa–Oneota tradition today.

Reuben's work now anchors the end of the Native Cultures exhibit, a reminder that these traditions are not just part of the past. They continue, evolve, and live on.

Admission is always free.

💡Ground floor REFRESH!If you've been by this week, you've surely seen us hard at work on the ground floor of the Museum ...
05/08/2026

💡Ground floor REFRESH!

If you've been by this week, you've surely seen us hard at work on the ground floor of the Museum of Natural History. All Diversity of Life exhibit cases are getting an upgrade with new lighting fixtures to conserve energy and keep us .

Are you ready? Don't miss Rusty the Giant Sloth's B-DAY BASH Monday, May 11, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the UI Museum...
05/07/2026

Are you ready? Don't miss Rusty the Giant Sloth's B-DAY BASH Monday, May 11, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the UI Museum of Natural History! Slide through some party props here, tell your friends, and come grab some cake as we treat ourselves with some delightfully low-stakes fun in celebration of this true Iowa icon. Oh, and don't miss members of the marching band and a very special guest right at 6:00 p.m.!

Address

17 N. Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA
52242

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

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