Wow, what two years can do for a museum!
Two years ago, three friends and I visited three tourist attractions near each other: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Botanical Gardens – Holden Forests & Gardens, and The Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
The first two were, as promised, world-class. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, though, was a disappointment. It was stark, little to see, and only a few animals outside. Signs everywhere promised a new and improved museum soon.
Fast-forward. The wait was worth it! The Museum just debuted a stunning $150 million transformation that invites people to explore the wonders of science and nature—from the origins of the Universe to the amazing story of life on Earth.
The transformation features an expanded campus totaling more than 375,000 square feet, more than 2 acres of outdoor visitor areas, and completely reimagined exhibits. The building’s new architecture, designed by DLR Group, was inspired by the geological history of Northeast Ohio, with flowing white forms paying homage to the glaciers that carved the Great Lakes. These design choices—architecture in service of science—reflect the Museum’s mission and provide visitors with even more opportunities to connect with nature.
Today, it’s an entirely new museum experience compared to the one I had experienced. It helps portray a unified story of life on Earth. Reconceptualized exhibits aim to put the visitor at the center of the experience—prioritizing relevance and encouraging all audiences to deepen their connection to science and the natural world.
Dynamic exhibits, media-enhanced displays, and flexible spaces now allow the Museum to integrate active research and the newest scientific knowledge into its galleries. Thousands of specimens and artifacts from its collections represent the evidence scientists use to answer questions about the world.
The Museum is moving away from traditional, static exhibits organized by discipline and time period. Instead, the new galleries embrace an inquiry-based approach that tells a unified life story on Earth.
For example, in Visitor Hall, eight exhibits present some of the Museum’s most iconic specimens, each uniquely tied to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
The Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears Dynamic Earth Wing is an immersive gallery where visitors can explore Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history. Through engaging fossil displays and stunning visualizations, the gallery illuminates the cycles that have shaped our planet and reveals how all living things are connected to the physical world.
One exhibit spotlight is an Earthquake Simulator. This interactive exhibit invites visitors to experience the tremors of an earthquake while demonstrating how seismic activity works.
The Evolving Life Wing traces the incredible life story on Earth, highlighting how all living things—human and nonhuman—adapt and evolve over time. Visitors will encounter media-enhanced dioramas of diverse ecosystems, from the polar region to sub-Saharan Africa, while case studies and interactive displays highlight the mechanisms of evolution.
Ames Family Curiosity Center is designed to inspire hands-on learning. It invites visitors of all ages to engage with real Museum specimens and discover how science shapes our daily lives. Visitors can explore Ohio’s biodiversity, climate change, and more in this interactive space.
The Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium uses innovative Digistar 7 technology and offers an extraordinary view of the cosmos. Featuring flexible seating and breathtaking visuals, the planetarium’s new programs will bring astronomy to life for visitors of all ages.
Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank, allows guests to take a walk through the stunning Perkins Wildlife Center, where soaring walkways wind through forests and animal encounters will bring you closer to Ohio’s wildlife than ever before. Daily Wildlife Talks offer opportunities to learn more about the Museum’s animal ambassadors, often allowing visitors to observe feeding or animal enrichment in action—all led by Museum wildlife specialists.
Murch Auditorium is a newly renovated venue perfect for lectures, presentations, 3D movies, and special events. It features state-of-the-art audiovisual technology and enhanced acoustics, offering an ideal space for engaging audiences.
The Smead Discovery Center—presented by PNC—is designed for the Museum’s youngest visitors. This interactive space invites children to explore science and nature through hands-on activities like digging for dinosaur fossils, designing constellations, and more.
The Thelma and Kent H. Smith Environmental Courtyard is a redesigned outdoor space that offers opportunities to connect with Ohio’s natural landscapes. Visitors can explore trails, learn about the Museum’s conservation work, and enjoy the beauty of native plants.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces shaping their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature.
Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards over 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation.
For more information, click here. For details on visiting Cleveland and its many excellent attractions, click here.
All photos courtesy of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History
