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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 1506.
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Worst experience ever If they cancel your activités they keep your money
Date published: 2026-02-25
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great Value We went to Boston a few years ago for a vacation and the value of this pass was great. we are going again this year 2026 and the value is still the selling point of this pass. Our little one is so excited to visit the city and all the attractions we get to see with this pass again!
Date published: 2026-02-19
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Loved the CityPASS, with one exception I didn't like the Museum of Science (a bit over stimulating for my taste) but enjoyed the other places I went on the CityPASS I purchased when I went to Boston in July 2022 for a Yankees/Red Sox game (New England Aquarium, City Cruise, Franklin Park Zoo). Also checked out Harvard Museum of Natural History and enjoyed that as well.
Date published: 2026-01-14
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Great product! Great option to enjoy city, my only advice is to add more options to select. Great product!
Date published: 2025-12-09
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Ease of use CityPASS was of great help to us. We bought it for our short stay and glad we did.
Date published: 2025-11-26
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All images courtesy of Harvard Museum of Natural History / Header Image: © President & Fellows Harvard College