Plan Your Visit

Glass Flowers Gallery Image

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is one of the four Harvard Museums of Science & Culture.

Hours

Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Closed the following days:

  • Wednesday, November 27, 2024 (day before Thanksgiving)
  • Thursday, November 28, 2024(Thanksgiving Day)
  • Saturday, December 21, 2024
  • Sunday, December 22, 2024
  • Monday, December 23, 2024
  • Tuesday, December 24, 2024 (Christmas Eve)
  • Wednesday, December 25, 2024 (Christmas)
  • Wednesday, January 1, 2025 (New Year's Day)
 

Museum closes early on the following days:

  • Thursday, March 7, 2024 (at 3:00 pm)
  • Tuesday March 26 (at 3:30 pm)
  • Tuesday, May 7, 2024 (at 3:00 pm)

 

General Admission

General admission gives access to all exhibits including the Glass Flowers Gallery. The museum is connected to the Peabody Museum, and admission to one museum admits you to both during regular hours.

Adults: $15.00
Seniors (65+): $13.00
Harvard ID Holders: Free +1 guest
Non-Harvard students with I.D.: $10.00
Youth ages 3–18: $10.00
Youth under 3: Free

Free for members
 

Special Free Admission (with valid ID)

Free to holders of a current Harvard ID; Harvard Museums of Science & Culture members, and Harvard Art Museums members.

Free to Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and on Wednesdays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Proof of residency required. This offer is not available to commercial groups. 

Free to Massachusetts Teachers (K-12).

Free for Massachusetts residents who present an EBT or WIC card, and up to five guests. We are proud to participate in the Card to Culture program.

ASTC Travel Passport Program

ASTC logoFree to members of institutions participating in the ASTC Travel Passport Program. Local restrictions apply, please review the guidelines and restrictions (PDF) before your visit.

 

National Endowment for the Arts Blue Star Museums Program

Free to active duty military with their families in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts Blue Star Museums Program. Year-round free admission is offered to the Peabody Museum and Harvard Museum of Natural History using the Blue Star Museums guidelines.

Blue Star Museum

Discounted Admission (with valid ID) 


Library Passes

Library patrons can reserve discount passes through their local, Massachusetts-based, library to visit our museums! Library pass admission includes entry to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. Please be prepared to show the physical library pass and proof of Massachusetts residency. Only one member of the party must be a MA resident. The pass admits up to four visitors. The passes are non-transferable and may not be combined with other offers.

Are you a library looking to offer passes to your patrons? Learn more about our Library Membership Program.

Save With CityPASS

CityPass Boston 45% discount logo.

Spend less, Experience more! Boston CityPASS® saves 45% on admission to top Boston’s top 4 attractions, including Harvard Museum of Natural History. Visit the attractions at your own pace, in any order, over 9-days. One easy purchase and mobile ticket delivery saves time and money. Buy CityPASS® online and present your pass to the admissions desk for entry at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

 



Go City: Boston All-Inclusive Pass

go city logo

Harvard Museum of Natural History is one of the Boston attractions offered by Go City. Discover 40+ top Boston attractions and save up to 55% with Go City. Choose between a 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7-day All-Inclusive Pass and get exploring – visit the Paul Revere House, get hands-on at the Museum of Science, hop on an entertaining guided trolley tour and meet the critters at New England Aquarium. There's different activities to suit everyone—all hand-picked by a team of local experts. Your pass is fully digital and comes with a handy city guide to help you plan your trip. See more. Spend less.

Group Visits

Advance reservations are required. Learn about admission rates and registration information for group visits and prepaid museum passes for educational institutions.

School Visits

Click here for program descriptions and rates. Please call (617) 495-2341 for information and reservations, or email hmnhreserve@hmsc.harvard.edu.

Museum Policies

Enjoy your visit, and please help us keep the museum safe and comfortable for other visitors.

  • No eating or drinking in the galleries
  • Our passages are narrow; keep them accessible for other visitors.
  • Do not lean on glass cases; they are fragile.
  • Cell phones are permitted for phone calls in the ground and third floor lobbies.
  • Personal photography is allowed; however, the use of flash and tripods is not permitted in the galleries. Commercial photography or video cameras are not permitted without written permission. Information on photography and videography requests for commercial use can be found here.
  • Drawing is encouraged in the galleries, but the use of clay, paints, pastels, and chalk is not permitted. Please do not block passageways; keep them accessible to other visitors.

 

Harvard Museums of Science & Culture Map

Explore the galleries of the  Harvard Museum of Natural History, Peabody Museum, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. All four Harvard Museums of Science & Culture are within a five-minute walk.