The Harvard Museum of Natural History sits at 26 Oxford Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, part of Harvard University and known locally as HMNH. It is a natural history museum, and a visit here suits anyone curious about fossils, minerals, and the living world, whether you are travelling with children or on your own.
What you will see
The collections include dinosaur fossils, a broad mineral collection, and the museum's best-known attraction, the Glass Flowers exhibit. These glass models of plants are a distinctive feature that many visitors come specifically to see. The museum's displays draw on specimens from the university's research collections, so the exhibits reflect ongoing scientific work as well as public display.
Planning your visit
- Location: 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Phone: +1-617-495-3045
- Best for: families, students, and visitors interested in geology, paleontology, and botany
Because the museum belongs to Harvard, it is easy to combine with a wider look at the university campus and the surrounding streets of Cambridge. Check directly with the museum before you go to confirm current opening times, admission arrangements, and any temporary exhibits, as these details are not covered here.
The area around it
Oxford Street places the museum within walking distance of other Harvard buildings and of the neighbourhood's cafés and shops. Plan a half-day at least, so that you have time to move through the galleries at an easy pace and perhaps linger over the glass botanical models, which reward close attention.
