5 Things To See at the Cleveland Natural History Museum

If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to spend a day in the Northeast Ohio area, look no further than the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. As one of the most popular attractions in the city, the museum is open every Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Current admission for adults 19 and older is $17, while seniors and youth tickets are $14 per person. Here’s a breakdown of some of the museum’s most famous exhibits, ranging in topics including prehistoric fossils, space, wildlife, and human evolution.

Balto Exhibit

A story with close ties to the Cleveland community, the Balto exhibit is a must-see attraction at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Learn about the heroic husky Balto, who, along with a team of other valiant dogs, made a harrowing trip across the Iditarod Trail in rural Alaska. Balto led his team across the 674-mile journey in only six days, helping to transport much-needed medical serum after a diphtheria outbreak in the remote town of Nome. Thanks to the efforts of the drivers and sled dogs, the serum arrived just in time to treat the people of Nome.

After a brief stint in the spotlight, Balto and his teammates were destined to spend their days at a museum in Los Angeles, when Cleveland businessman George Kimble decided to raise money to buy the dogs and give them the lives they deserved. All over Cleveland, people came together to raise $2,000 so Balto and his fellow huskies could retire in peace. When Balto and his team arrived in Cleveland on March 19, 1927, the city welcomed them with a massive parade before they lived out the rest of their lives peacefully at what’s now the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

After Balto’s passing in 1933, the city mounted his body so he could live in the public’s memory forever. You can visit Balto at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where his exhibit is part of the attraction’s permanent collection. If you want to see Balto and learn more about his heroic story, the exhibit is located inside the museum’s Kirkland Hall of Prehistoric Life. 

Coelophysis Bauri Dinosaur Exhibit

Image via Flickr by Tim Evanson

The Coelophysis bauri is the Cleveland Museum of National History’s oldest dinosaur at an estimated 225 million years old. During the late Triassic Period, a large group of dinosaurs perished together, with their remains forming into a bone bed that was later discovered in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. In 1969, a block from the massive bone bed made its way to the museum, where experts got to work preparing them for exhibition. 

After years of preparation, the mount for the dinosaur exhibit went live in 2001. Currently, it is the most complete mount of fossils of its kind in the world, making it a unique attraction to the Cleveland area. The dinosaur itself is made up of bones from at least three individual dinosaurs, which all come together to form nearly the entire skeleton of the Coelophysis bauri. 

This dinosaur was a fierce predator, built for battle with long hind limbs, a balanced tail, large eyes, and serrated teeth. Despite its smaller stature of approximately 10 feet and 60 lbs, this species was surely a vicious opponent. If you’re interested in seeing this massive skeleton for yourself, visit the Kirkland Hall of Prehistoric Life inside the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. 

Human Origins Gallery

One of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s most famous residents is Lucy, a partial skeleton discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. At the time of her discovery, Lucy was the oldest and most complete human ancestor ever found, with scientists uncovering 40% of her skeleton and estimating her to be 3.2 million years old. Today, she greets guests as they enter the Human Origins Gallery, where visitors can learn about early human civilization and anatomy. 

Next to Lucy’s skeleton is a model made by paleoartist John Gurche. Using the skeleton to cast the structure for the model’s body, Gurche used clay to sculpt muscles consistent with markings on Lucy’s bones. After adding synthetic skin and hair, the anatomically complete sculpture was complete. Visitors can see Lucy and other bones and artifacts related to our ancient human ancestors, with the Human Origins Gallery featuring over 40 specimens as well as some interactive exhibits. 

Moon Rock Exhibit

The moon rock exhibit, located in the Wade Gallery of Gems and Jewels, is another must-see attraction at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. During the Apollo 12 mission of 1969, astronaut Alan Bean collected various samples intending to learn more about the lunar surface. The rock was formed over 228 million years ago when a meteorite blasted a piece of basalt from a solidified lava sheet onto the moon near the crater Copernicus, where it remained until Bean collected it on the Apollo 12 mission. 

NASA loaned the moon rock to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in 1998, where it’s remained ever since. The rock itself is only the top third of the entire specimen brought back by Bean. Visitors can observe the tiny minerals feldspar and pyroxene, as well as small holes in the basalt, known as “vugs,” that formed from gas bubbles when the lava sheet originally cooled. Space and geology lovers alike are sure to enjoy this exhibit, along with the other specimens located within the Wade Gallery of Gems and Jewels.

Perkins Wildlife Center

The Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden is a newer addition to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The exhibit, now a permanent fixture at the museum, features an abundance of animals and five ecosystems that contribute greatly to Ohio’s natural environment. One of the exhibit’s main attractions is its winding elevated walkway that allows visitors to get a bird’s-eye view of the habitats surrounding them. 

Some of the animals you can visit include coyotes, bobcats, bald eagles, porcupines, otters, and owls. All of the animals housed at the Perkins Wildlife Center are rescued and rehabilitated, providing the Cleveland community with a wealth of knowledge about the animals. 

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is only one of several fun attractions in the Cleveland area. Do you want to know about more activities in Northeast Ohio? Feel free to contact us at Honda of Cleveland Heights for more suggestions!