Salt Lake Natural History Museum

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How To Maximize An Afternoon At The Natural History Museum Of Utah

Lets start at the top and work our way down, I say. My mom and I are standing in the Canyon, Natural History Museum of Utahs grand open atrium, located on its second floor.

We skip the Museum Café, Store, and Utah Futures exhibits for now and take the elevator up to the fifth floor Rooftop Terrace and Native Voices exhibits. This quiet level offers panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley and is the perfect place to start your afternoon at the Natural History Museum of Utah.

What Is The Natural History Museum Of Utah

Its a fantastic museum detailing the natural history of the state of Utah. Tons of cool interactive exhibits, from minerals and metals on up to the flora and fauna, make the museum an excellent educational centerpiece for any trip to Utah. But even better, it has dinosaurs. Lots of dinosaurs. Utah is one of the worlds richest areas for dinosaur-fossil discovery, and the museums impressive exhibits of skeletal giant reptiles from the past make it a must-stop.

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Native Voices: Utahs Tribes

Back inside, we learn about the traditions of Utahs eight federally recognized Indian tribes in the Native Voices area through audio and artifacts before continuing downstairs to the Life exhibit. Local tribes were consulted on the creation of this exhibit.

Tip: Download NHMUs mobile guide, Trailhead to Utah, to find unique museum content and ideas for exploring Utahs outdoors.

Merging Art And Science

To navigate the siteâs 180 feet of elevation change, the landscape architect utilized digital terrain modeling, blurring the boundaries between built and natural environment through the development of a series of constructed terraces that step up the existing foothill contours.

Image Credit: Design Workshop Inc. Media: Please submit high-resolution image requests to

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Things To Know Before You Go

• Natural History Museum of Utah is a must-see for dinosaur and natural history lovers of all ages.

• Dont miss the views of the Salt Lake Valley from the rooftop terrace.

• Admission to the Natural History Museum of Utah is included with select city passes.

• The museum is wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available to borrow at no cost.

Natural History Museum Of Utah Salt Lake City Ut

I first visited the Natural History Museum of Utah when the facility was located in the heart of the University of Utah campus. It certainly had character and a lot to offer, but it did not have nearly the abundance of space, particularly not enough to keep up with the ever-expanding fossil collection that NHMU has seen since a treasure trove of new species were discovered in Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in the past decade or so.

My son and I came about a week after the paper describing Kosmoceratops hit the national news, and we were very excited to see the skull of the new dinosaur in the lab undergoing cleaning and prep. The dinosaur section was great, I remember seeing Falcarius for the first time there. The Allosaurus fossil attacking the Camarasaurus fossil was a great display as well. They also had a nice collection of ceratopsian skulls.

Three years later, we returned after the new building The Rio Tinto Center on the edge of campus opened a few miles from the original siteand what a great surprise! The building itself is very beautiful and was built with materials that reflect Utahsandstone, red rock, copper, etc. But more impressive was the space now available to display some of their outstanding fossil collection.

Utahceratops

HIGHLIGHTS

Allosaurus Lythronax

IF I DONT LIKE DINOSAURS, WILL I ENJOY MY VISIT?

WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

DID MY CHILDREN ENJOY THEIR VISIT?

Ceratosaurus

HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I PLAN TO SPEND THERE?

OVERALL:

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How To Get There

Situated in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains on the eastern edge of the University of Utah, the Natural History Museum of Utah overlooks the Salt Lake Valley. Visitors can take TRAX, Salt Lake Citys light rail train, to the University of Utah, and then jump on the universitys free shuttle to the museum. The museum is easily accessed by car via Foothill Drive, and plenty of parking is available for both cars and bikes.

Natural History Museum Of Utah

The Natural History Museum of Utah is a museum located in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The museum shows exhibits of natural history subjects, with an emphasis on Utah and the Intermountain West. The mission of the museum is to illuminate the natural world and the place of humans within it. A new building, named the Rio Tinto Center, opened in November 2011. The museum is part of the University of Utah and is located in the university’s Research Park.

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At The Interface Of Urban And Magnificent Open Lands

Rising from the foothills above Salt Lake City, the Museumâs immersive experience begins upon arrival. A crafted approach, defined by sculptural stands of native Gambel oak and geologically-inspired retaining walls, artfully negotiates challenging slope conditions.

Image Credit: Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc. Media: Please submit high-resolution image requests to

Role At The University Of Utah

The museum is part of the academic life of the University of Utah. The collections offer research opportunities and provide a learning laboratory for students. Museum programs expose students to many aspects of museum studies: educational outreach, exhibit design and fabrication development, public relations, and curriculum development.

The museum is a repository for collections that were accumulated by the university’s departments of Anthropology, Biology, and Geology. The collections are held in trust for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates who have access to the collections for research and teaching purposes.

In-service training is offered by the Utah Museum of Natural History Education Department university credit can be earned with these courses, leading to salary lane changes for public school teachers. These courses are coordinated with the Academic Outreach and Continuing Education and the Department of Teaching and Learning. As the founder of the university’s Genetic Science Learning Center, the museum continues to partner in its teacher training program.

The museum meeting rooms are available for rental for on- and off-campus groups.

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The Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Immensely popular with hikers and mountain bikers, Salt Lake Citys Bonneville Shoreline Trail passes right in front of the museums doors. The trail runs along the ancient shoreline of Lake Bonneville, which once sat in the Salt Lake Valley and covered much of Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. Visitors can explore the trails around the museum or visit neighboring Red Butte Gardens, the largest botanical garden in the intermountain west.

Great Salt Lake: The Remnant Of An Ancient Lake

Can you believe the entire Salt Lake Valley was once completely underwater? The Great Salt Lake exhibit is the place to learn about the worlds second saltiest lake a remnant of Lake Bonneville. If youve recently visited the lake, walking under the display of flying seagulls and critters that call it home felt like a realistic way to experience it again.

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Welcome To The Utah Field House Of Natural History

Discover the prehistoric world, dig for fossils, and explore the dinosaur garden. Within an 80-mile radius of Vernal, evidence of the entire Earths history is visible. Utah Field House reveals this geologic story with hands-on exhibits and activities.

Conveniently located inside the museum, a free visitor center allows our guests to get all the necessary information to fulfill their adventure in the Vernal area. Our friendly and knowledgeably staff is available year-round to answer questions and help enhance your visit. Visitors can get up-to-date information about attractions, recreational opportunities, food, lodging, as well as local events.

Interested in participating in our current paleontology field program? See events section!

A Seamless Educational Landscape

The landscape architect chose to celebrate the confluence of the siteâs natural and cultural landscape in a layered and seamless application in which zones of influenceâEnhancement, Rehabilitation, and Conservationâ extend outward from the building footprint.

Image Credit: Brandon Huttenlocher/Design Workshop, Inc. Media: Please submit high-resolution image requests to

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A Place Of Culture And Nature

The Natural History Museum of Utah illuminates the natural world through scientific inquiry, educational outreach, mutual cultural experience, and human engagement. True to its mission, the museum and grounds provide a transparent and abstract extension of the surrounding landscape.

Image Credit: Design Workshop Inc. Media: Please submit high-resolution image requests to

Land: First Peoples And Past Worlds

The museums crowning jewel is its third floor, which we reach by following a winding ramp down Level 4s west side to the land ancient people, dinosaurs and geology galore.

Start exploring Land by touching rocks from Utahs three distinct regions: the Middle Rocky Mountains, Basin and Range and Colorado Plateau. We step out onto the outdoor terrace to see one of these regions in the wild: Utahs Middle Rocky Mountains. The towering mountains and surrounding foothills showcase this diverse area of Utah geography.

Back inside, theres a cant-miss natural disaster area focused on earthquakes. As Utahns, weve been taught our whole lives that the Big One is coming any day, which makes this exhibit on earthquakes and plate tectonics fascinating. If youre not into end-of-the-world scenarios, continue to the Great Salt Lake exhibit.

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Past Worlds: Dinosaurs Come To Life

The Past Worlds exhibit is definitely a museum highlight. Utah is known for its diverse and plentiful dinosaur species, and fossil digs uncover new species all the time.

I could spend hours walking along the elevated ramp that showcases dozens of reconstructed dinosaur skeletons and real fossils. Theres a Gryposaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur, a Utahraptor found in Moab, an Allosaurus from Utahs late Jurassic period, and a huge Stegosaurus from Utahs Dinosaur National Monument or Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry just to name a few.

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581-4303 nhmu.utah.edu

As the Utah state museum of natural history, this top attraction provides an introduction to the science in Utahs remarkable landscape! With engaging exhibits and over 5,000 artifacts on display, the Museum features Utahs paleontology discoveries, fascinating gems and minerals found world-wide, preserved artifacts from Utahs prehistoric peoples, and stories told by the five Native nations that lie within the states boundaries.

Journey to the top of a three-story indoor Canyon. Wander through Utahs dinosaurs and animal life. Interact with earthquakes, erosion, and our Digital Globe to discover how the earths surface and the Great Salt Lake have changed over time. Enjoy breath-taking views from our observatory deck. Hike the Bonneville Shoreline trail. Experience natural history as only Utah can reveal it.

Enjoy beverages, lunch or a snack at the Museum Cafe. Shop the Museum Store for unique jewelry and gift items influenced by natures design. Visitors with young kids will enjoy Our Backyard, an intimate, discovery-based environment that invites our pre-school visitors to experience natural history first hand!

For more information:

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Natural History Museums In Salt Lake City

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How To Use It

• Mobile or paper ticket accepted
• 1. This is NOT your pass and will not work at any location.
• 2. If you entered your mobile number during checkout, you will receive a text message with a link to your mobile pass. If you did not, you will receive an email from Bandwango containing a link to your mobile pass.
• 3. When you arrive at your first attraction, present your mobile pass to redeem your admission at that location. Follow the instructions on the pass when presenting your phone to the attendant. Each pass allows for one admission to each location.
• 4. Only this mobile pass will be accepted for entry to the participating attractions.
• Your voucher will be sent to your email after your booking is confirmed. Please check the usage instructions on your voucher for more info about how to use it.
• Any traveler groups not mentioned in the booking options are not applicable for voucher use.
• 1. Tour-specific inquiries : Please refer to the Tour-Specific Inquiries section of your e-voucher to find the relevant tour organizer’s details.
• 2. Change or cancellation issues: Please contact Trip.com Customer Support via the email address or contact numbers provided in your e-voucher.

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Reservations Are Recommended For Admission

The Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m every day. On Wednesdays, we are open until 9 p.m. Guests are encouraged to start planning their visit at least one day in advance, as ticket availability is limited. If a discount requires validation your reservation may show a balance until validation is presented upon entry.

For questions regarding accommodations please see our accessibility page.

To enjoy free admission and other year-round benefits, consider becoming a Museum Member!

Additionally, we offer homeschool reservations and discounts for groups of 12 or more.

Defining The Threshold Between Nature And Culture And Embodying The Museums Mission To Illuminate The Natural World Through Scientific Inquiry Educational Outreach Mutual Cultural Experience And Human Engagement The Museum Is Conceived As An Abstract Extension And Transformation Of The Land: Its Formal And Material Qualities Derive From The Regions Natural Landscape Of Rock Soil Minerals And Vegetation

Utahs natural environment memorializes the story of how human beings interpreted their world and their land over one thousand years ago. The material quality of the buildings exterior roots it in its context, recalling the importance of landscape in Utahs human and natural history.

Todd Schliemann, Design Partner

Utahs singular landscape and the ways in which humans have engaged its varied character over time are the touchstone for an architecture that expresses the States cultural and natural contexts. Together with the interpretive exhibit program and landscape design, the architecture creates an inspirational visitor experience and sponsors curiosity and inquiry.

The Museum rests on a series of constructed terraces that step up the hill and lay along the contours of the site with minimal disruption to the adjacent natural landscape the buildings powerful jagged profile references the mountains beyond. Like the Bonneville Shoreline Trail that traverses the mountains, a series of ascending switchbacks defines the path to the building.

Inspired by Utahs distinctive slot canyons, a dramatic central public space the Canyon organizes the visitor experience, dividing the building programmatically. Bridges and vertical circulation organize the visitor sequence views south across the basin expand the museumgoer experience shafts of sunlight penetrate the apex, suffusing the space with natural light and a grand vertical scale uplifts and inspires.

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Salt Lake Ski Super Pass

The Salt Lake Ski Super Pass is your discounted lift ticket to Salt Lakes four world-class resorts. With the Super Pass, you can save money on ticket prices to Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude with no blackout dates. In addition to lift tickets, the Salt Lake Ski Super Pass includes public transit fare and rental shop discounts.