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Harvard Museum of Natural History

The Harvard Museum of Natural History’s mission is to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the human place in it and spark a spirit of discovery in people of all ages. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is Harvard University's most visited attraction and is located steps from historic Harvard Yard. The museum offers 16 galleries, including the world-famous Blaschka Glass Flowers, thousands of sparkling gemstones, dinosaurs, whales, and hundreds of wildlife specimens from around the world.

Boston CityPASS includes:

General Admission – Entry includes all exhibits and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Highlights

  1. 01.

    See the amazingly realistic Glass Flowers collection, with over 4,300 models on display representing more than 780 plant species. New on view in the gallery: The Blaschkas at the Microscope: Lessons in Botany.

  2. 02.

    Explore recently opened exhibitions like Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination as well as ongoing popular exhibitions Swimming with Sharks and New England Forests. Be sure to visit the adjoining Peabody Museum and exhibits like the photography exhibition Manifest: Thirteen Colonies. All exhibits draw from Harvard University collections and reflect the most current scientific research.

  3. 03.

    Visit the Africa Gallery and see impressive mounted specimens of African wildlife, including hippopotamus, lion, ostrich, hyena, gorilla, and a variety of rare animals from the island of Madagascar.

© Harvard Museums of Science & Culture / Tony Rinaldo

© Harvard Museums of Science & Culture / Tony Rinaldo

Visit Harvard Museum of Natural History with CityPASS®

CityPASS tickets offer a great way to see Harvard Museum of Natural History while saving you time and money.

Boston CityPASS

Advice for Visitors

Tips

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

Admission to the Harvard Museum of Natural History also admits visitors to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Avoid waiting in line by entering through the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Visit hmsc.harvard.edu for information on parking, special exhibitions, free lectures, special events, family days, and museum classes.

The Great Mammal Hall features a giraffe, zebra, sloths, lemurs, and six whales hanging from the ceiling.

Harvard Square offers an array of opportunities for dining, shopping, films, or performing arts for all interests and budgets. Make a day of it.

Learn more on the CityPASS Blog about what you'll see at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Attraction Features

Amenities

Dining: Restaurants in nearby Harvard Square.

Gift Shops: The Shop at HMNH

Accessibility

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is dedicated to accessibility for all visitors. The museum’s galleries are located on the third floor. The museum's front entrance at 26 Oxford Street is not accessible. An accessible entrance is located on the left side of the building at the North Entrance. Find more information about accessibility..

Parking/Transportation

Get information on parking, transportation and directions.

Offers & Upgrades

$2 off Adult Admission

Boston CityPASS includes option attractions that allow you to choose which attractions to visit. To visit extra attractions at a savings, you can take advantage of this exclusive discount for CityPASS ticket holders.

10% off Your Purchase

Save 10% at the Natural History Museum Shop on a purchase of $25 or more (not including sale merchandise).

Contact Information & Hours

  • Harvard Museum of Natural History
  • 26 Oxford St.
  • Cambridge, MA 02138
  • 10-minute walk from Harvard Square
  • Open daily, 9am-5pm

See details on holiday hours and early closures.

© President & Fellows Harvard College

© President & Fellows Harvard College

Read reviews from CityPASS® travelers.

Boston CityPASS
Fun to be had in Boston with the CityPASS
The CityPASS made site seeing so simple. We loved not having to wait in long lines for tickets and the locations on the CityPASS were kid approved. The passes were well worth the investment!
Worth the Savings
The CityPASS for Boston was well worth it. We saved a significant amount of money visiting the museums and taking the cruise tour. Had a memorable time and it was worth it!
Boston CityPASS experience
Tasked by my wife to plan a 3-day weekend in Boston, CityPASS was the perfect choice to save us money and see the sights.
Totally worth it!
I bought a CityPASS for our trip to Boston and it was perfect. We went to the Museum of Science (the best!), the Franklin Park Zoo and the New England Aquarium. It was easy to schedule the visits and the passes were right on our phones. Also the price was just right. There were 4 of us, so technically one of the visits was free. Highly recommend Buying the passes.
What a Bargain!
I spent three days in Boston in mid-December with my girlfriend and thankfully, she got us onto a CityPASS. I had no idea they even existed and in hindsight we saved ourselves the equivalent of a whole night's accommodation!
Boston CityPASS is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 1521.
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Completely Fabulous! My friend and I were told about CityPASS and we were soo happy with our purchases. Had so much fun. First was the aquarium, got to see the Sea moneys, Sea Dragons, and touch the RAYS! Then on to the Boat ride and Emily was so informative and funny. Then the Obeservatory and finally Museum of Science!!! FANTASTIC!!!!!! HIGHLY HIGHLY!!!+RECOMMEND!!!!!!! ENJOY EVERYONE!
Date published: 2026-07-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Good value and easy to use! My family bought a set of Boston CityPass when we were in town for 3 days. We used all four entries per person - we did the Observation Deck, the Harvard Natural History Museum, a Boat Tour and the New England Aquarium. It felt like we got a good value for the passes and it had exactly what we wanted to do. It was very easy for me to buy and store the passes for the whole family on my phone to quickly scan to enter. Very good experience, we will do this again and recommend to others!
Date published: 2026-07-12
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great Value and Easy to Use We purchased Boston CityPASS, which allowed us to visit 4 attractions in the city. We chose the New England Aquarium, Boston Harbor City Cruise, Museum of Science, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Overall, the CityPASS was very easy to use. The mobile tickets were convenient, and the admission process at each attraction was smooth. Purchasing the CityPASS saved us money compared to buying individual tickets and helped us plan our sightseeing itinerary. Our favorite attractions were the New England Aquarium, with its impressive Giant Ocean Tank and diverse marine life, and the Boston Harbor Cruise, which provided great views of the city skyline and historical landmarks. The Museum of Science offered interactive exhibits that were both educational and entertaining for adults and children. The Harvard Museum of Natural History was also worth visiting, especially the famous Glass Flowers collection and fascinating natural history displays. I would recommend Boston CityPASS to anyone planning to visit multiple attractions in Boston. It provides good value, convenience, and access to some of the city's top destinations.
Date published: 2026-07-06
Rated 5 out of 5 by from definitely worth considering Easy to purchase and good value for money. Really liked that we could use it over 9 days, 14 would have been better!!! Easy to use and top quality attractions.
Date published: 2026-07-01
Rated 4 out of 5 by from let us buy a paper ticket we found trying to get the pass on our phone hard. it took ages and tried to get help from the people at the ticket counter where the boat trips were but they just said they couldnt help. some people while travelling dont have great wifi or even any (as its expensive in the usa) so why cant you just buy a paper ticket somewhere, you may get more sales. but after we got it we enjoyed going to the attractions.
Date published: 2026-06-22
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All images courtesy of Harvard Museum of Natural History / Header Image: © President & Fellows Harvard College