San Diego Natural History Museum

The San Diego Natural History Museum is a gem in Balboa Park! The exhibits are fascinating, covering everything from prehistoric fossils to the rich biodiversity of Southern California. The interactive displays make learning fun for all ages. The museum's stunning architecture and well-curated collections provide a fantastic experience. The museum was founded over 150 years ago in 1874. All displays are in English and Spanish. The museum is fully wheelchair/stroller accessible . Included in the ticket is a movie. Currently, the movie shown is "T Rex" (2024). A state of the art documentary on dinosaurs . Whether you're a local or a visitor, it's a must-see destination for anyone interested in natural history. Highly recommended!

We visited the Natural History Museum, and they were celebrating their 150th birthday which was awesome to see. Some of the animal models in the exhibits had little party hats on, which was super cute. We paid $20 for student tickets and spent a good amount of time exploring all of the floors. There were some really cool exhibits that were very informative. It was cool to see this museum because it offered different artifacts than the ones I've been to on the East Coast. There are gems and minerals, animal models and taxidermy, skulls, and skeletons, and lots of educational signs. One of my favorite parts was the live animals in the tanks. The gift shop is really small but has the essentials, and they even have a little cafe in it! Overall, I would definitely recommend checking out this spot. There's a lot to see and a lot to learn in here.

This is the best museum in Balboa Park!!!! Please do not skip this one! It is amazing to see real dinosaur bones here as well as models of how large they were. You can learn so much here, or just look around at cool things if you don't like to read. My favorite section was actually the "Unshelved" section. I also really enjoyed that there were some real living animals here, such as reptiles and spiders. This place is a must-see!!!! Elevator inside for wheelchair access.

This is the best museum in Balboa Park, featuring real dinosaur bones, fascinating exhibits like the Unshelved section, live reptiles and spiders, and excellent wheelchair accessibility with an elevator.

I took my wife there on a spur of the moment thing, we both had a marvelous time. We were able to catch both of the movie features that were absolutely spectacular! I highly recommend you make time to see those movies. The museum actually has a basement that wasn't open but was available to go down and look around behind the glass, make sure to do that. All in all the museum was extremely clean and the staff was very courteous. I would highly recommend a visit to this Museum to anyone of any age with any persons.

10-27-2023 I loved this museum this is a place you must video on your trip. There was so much information and displays you feel like you would get to see it all but you will just take your time. There are great displays here i was really pleased with what i saw

Fantastic, well kept museum with wonderful staff and lots of learning. A really great place to visit if you like birds especially and want to learn about San Diego's rich natural history. We got in free due to it being our birthday month and with help from the library. Thank you to everyone there!

Great stop for a chill day in the AC! Lots of variety and very kid friendly. I would have loved to see more gems and rocks and more real specimens.

The San Diego Natural History Museum is a gem in Balboa Park! The exhibits are fascinating, covering everything from prehistoric fossils to the rich biodiversity of Southern California. The interactive displays make learning fun for all ages. The museum's stunning architecture and well-curated collections provide a fantastic experience. The museum was founded over 150 years ago in 1874. All displays are in English and Spanish. The museum is fully wheelchair/stroller accessible . Included in the ticket is a movie. Currently, the movie shown is "T Rex" (2024). A state of the art documentary on dinosaurs . Whether you're a local or a visitor, it's a must-see destination for anyone interested in natural history. Highly recommended!

We visited the Natural History Museum, and they were celebrating their 150th birthday which was awesome to see. Some of the animal models in the exhibits had little party hats on, which was super cute. We paid $20 for student tickets and spent a good amount of time exploring all of the floors. There were some really cool exhibits that were very informative. It was cool to see this museum because it offered different artifacts than the ones I've been to on the East Coast. There are gems and minerals, animal models and taxidermy, skulls, and skeletons, and lots of educational signs. One of my favorite parts was the live animals in the tanks. The gift shop is really small but has the essentials, and they even have a little cafe in it! Overall, I would definitely recommend checking out this spot. There's a lot to see and a lot to learn in here.

This is the best museum in Balboa Park!!!! Please do not skip this one! It is amazing to see real dinosaur bones here as well as models of how large they were. You can learn so much here, or just look around at cool things if you don't like to read. My favorite section was actually the "Unshelved" section. I also really enjoyed that there were some real living animals here, such as reptiles and spiders. This place is a must-see!!!! Elevator inside for wheelchair access.

This is the best museum in Balboa Park, featuring real dinosaur bones, fascinating exhibits like the Unshelved section, live reptiles and spiders, and excellent wheelchair accessibility with an elevator.

I took my wife there on a spur of the moment thing, we both had a marvelous time. We were able to catch both of the movie features that were absolutely spectacular! I highly recommend you make time to see those movies. The museum actually has a basement that wasn't open but was available to go down and look around behind the glass, make sure to do that. All in all the museum was extremely clean and the staff was very courteous. I would highly recommend a visit to this Museum to anyone of any age with any persons.

10-27-2023 I loved this museum this is a place you must video on your trip. There was so much information and displays you feel like you would get to see it all but you will just take your time. There are great displays here i was really pleased with what i saw

Fantastic, well kept museum with wonderful staff and lots of learning. A really great place to visit if you like birds especially and want to learn about San Diego's rich natural history. We got in free due to it being our birthday month and with help from the library. Thank you to everyone there!

Great stop for a chill day in the AC! Lots of variety and very kid friendly. I would have loved to see more gems and rocks and more real specimens.

We are members so it wasn't our first time here. We love coming to this museum! There is so much to see and learn. I love how there are many fun exhibits for children to see and engage with. Since kids were free this October we decided to invite some other family members to come along. My Sister-in-law called the day before to ask about the rules on strollers and tickets for adults. She was told she could buy her ticket online and her 3 year old would be able to come in for free with her paid admission. She also has a two year old which is already free since she is a baby (2 and under don't require a ticket). When we arrived the girl at the front desk was not friendly at all. She seemed quite bothered that my sister-in-law had bought her ticket online and said that was not acceptable for the free child's admission. When my sister-in-law stated she had called the day before to make sure it was okay the girl looked upset and said "You can enter this time but I'll be talking to my team about this, because this is not okay." After seeing her attitude I checked her name tag and saw her name was Amanda and she was a "lead". For someone who is in a supervisor position I found this very unprofessional and unwelcoming. It was their first time at this museum and it was not a good first impression or a friendly customer service experience for them. I'm not sure why Amanda with the blue hair was so annoyed, when we were just so happy to be there . I have come many times before and the girls working in the front have always been so helpful and friendly. Maybe Amanda can learn from her team.

The San Diego Natural History Museum (I think locals call it "The Nat" - at least that's how I've heard the TV news anchors refer to it) is a nice destination for the nature enthusiasts in you. Located at the (let's see, umm) far northeast edge of Balboa Park, this museum offers three floors of education, exploration, and inspiration. The exhibits are well-curated and cover a diverse range of topics, from the prehistoric past of dinosaurs and fossils, which you'll find to the right as you enter, to the complex ecosystems of Southern California (lots of spiders, furry critters and the like - don't worry, they're all stuffed or stiff). Check out the "Fossil Mysteries" exhibit with its display of ancient creatures, and the "Coast to Cactus" setup covering the unique biodiversity of the region. They have a nice 3D theater showing various nature and natural world based films with eye-popping images that jump off the screen. You'll hear announcements over a loud speaker when a film is about to start and there are posters letting you know what is "Now Showing". I like how knowledgeable, friendly and ready to share the staff is, making for a more informative and interactive visit. The museum has a unique spacious design where the center is open from the ground floor all the way up past floors 2 and 3 to the ceiling. Look out the back windows by the stairs and you'll see the giant fig tree (I mean giant).

So much to see and learn about in one place. Great for the family and curious minds. Interesting info about fire in a chaparral ecosystem and seeing the transformation of parts of San Diego. Kids loved the dinosaurs and mineral exhibits. We could easily spend hours in this museum. Definitely recommend it.

We came for the 150th birthday celebration! There was so much to see and learn about. I think you could spend 1-2 hours here. The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. There's lots of history to be appreciated here!

First Stop on my Balboa Park Museum Adventure It was alright. It's summer so there's summer campers and tourists but it's San Diego so ... the kids got a good laugh at the selfies I took. Great for the kids. I did appreciate the beauty of the gems. It was nice to see them beautified in another way than jewelry.

This is the best museum in Balboa Park!!!! Please do not skip this one! It is amazing to see real dinosaur bones here as well as models of how large they were. You can learn so much here, or just look around at cool things if you don't like to read. My favorite section was actually the "Unshelved" section. I also really enjoyed that there were some real living animals here, such as reptiles and spiders. This place is a must-see!!!! Elevator inside for wheelchair access.

Love the exhibits here so much ! Very clean and situated perfectly between all the floors. There are elevators as well if stairs aren't your thing. Favorite museum by far!

The San Diego Natural History Museum is a nice place for children to learn and explore the past. I enjoyed quite a few exhibits featuring prehistoric animals, but the museum is pretty sparse. It took approximately 45-60 minutes to walk through the entire museum, including my time in the gift shop/cafe. I've been spoiled by the Smithsonian museums I visited as a child, but that's not to say the San Diego Natural Museum does not have merits. I recommend coming on a Tuesday when it's free for San Diego City & County residents or purchasing a Balboa Park Explorer Pass. This way you can pay a discounted fee and visit several museums in the Park. Otherwise, admission is $24 for adults and $14 for children (ages 3-17).

Came here for Nat at Night. Admission is half the cost of normal admission. Honestly it's a great event. Something about being in a museum after hours just makes it so much more fun! The displays are all wonderful curated and all the information placards are in English and Spanish. It's easy to go through everything pretty quickly even if you peruse through at a leisurely pace. Even though it's not jam packed with exhibits, the exhibits that are available are quite good. With the rooftop patio lit up and serving drinks and food though during the Nat at Night event, the museum becomes a perfect spot for a fun date night idea. I can imagine this museum feeling a bit sparse but it's perfect for a laidback peruse while enjoying drinks and snacks and conversation. The short movies playing on the giant screen theater are excellent also. Overall, it's a pretty fun and unique experience and I had a blast. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something fun and chill to do with friends or family or a unique date night idea.

Came here with our 7 year old and he loved it. There are so many things to see and do. The museum is 4 levels and the layout is very easy to work from the top down so you don't miss a thing. You learn a lot about the different places around San Diego and the conservation work that the museum scientists have done. There are a lot of different exhibits meant to engage a child's mind and get them to think about the world around them. It also allows them to see things that they might not have seen before. From the different live animals to the taxidermy ones it brings out a bunch of curiosity. We were lucky to be there when one of the films was playing in the theater so we got to learn about the TRex and also learn about how some of the fossils were discovered not by scientists but by a trio of pre teens. This is an engaging museum that captures the attention, indulges the curiosity of everyone young and old. It's a great place to spend a few hours or if pressed on time just see an exhibit or two. Next time we are back in the area we will definitely be coming here.

I came here awhile ago but I thought I would write a review and share some pictures. I'm sure they have done some renovations and remodeling since then. Current admission is $24 for an adult. Parking was very easy, we had no issues finding a spot. I really enjoyed this museum. I saw a lot of intriguing exhibits and I liked that they had some interactive activities. We probably spent 3-4 hours here. Museum was well kept. We came on a day where it wasn't too busy at all.

Nice museum at balboa park. My kids enjoyed it. This is a good size museum. It has a theater inside. It was very educational and fun for the kids.

Very fun museum! I liked all of the visual displays, and all of the different exhibits, but a fair warning, if you like animals.. DONT GO TO THE SECOND FLOOR! There's a load of taxidermies of different animals and there is animal fur that you can see. I would totally recommend this place though, especially if you're looking for a fun place to kill some time, and learn something new.

Nice displays of vertebrae, dinosaurs, animals and more. We went with 2 kids and did not see it all after 2 hours. But that depends, on how much learning and reading they do. There are lots of places to sit and there are 3 different movies included with admission in a large theater. It's also very quite for the older set, we went on a Friday afternoon.

I highly recommend this museum for kids. Parking: There is free parking in a lot near the museum, on the street, or down by the lot by the carousel. On the weekend the lots are full by 11am. Entry is located across from the GIANT tree. Walk down steps, enter door and walk to counter. They have maps at front but you don't really need them. The basement floor was not open when I went. The first/main floor has the giant t-rex skeleton that everyone loved. There were beautiful gems placed throughout the museum. Kids were mainly focused on the things they could touch and were bored with most other things. They had live insects and reptiles in the corner on the first floor. The second floor had some neat kid friendly areas, including a darkened camp ground story area (very cool!) and a giant tree your kid can go in to take a picture. On the third floor there are stairs in the back that go to a small hideaway book reading area for kids. I highly recommend this museum as it was very interesting, well planned and kids loved it. It took a little over an hour to go through everything.

Fun fact: when you grow up in San Diego and THIS is your museum experience during elementary school field trips, you will be very spoiled. It's been over 15 years and the Nat is as awesome as I remember it being. We spent about an hour exploring before my friend's kid needed a nap and our trip was cut short, and there is a lot more that I need to explore. I especially enjoyed the exhibits on the local habitat, especially as it pertains to wildfires being a natural part of the area. I enjoyed learning more about the area, the animals that call it home, and more. I've been to other natural history museums that were just filled with a bunch of sad taxidermy; The Nat in San Diego is a true gem.

This museum is also in the Balboa Park area. Since I've already frequented it's namesake in NYC, in comparison I prefer the NYC museum but this one is ok also. They have a large screen with Dolby in their Theater. The fossils are always interesting exhibits as well as some of the assorted mammals.

I visited the museum today, as it was free access for residents (uou check out Balboa website for Free Tuesday musuem access to local resistants). I overlooked that it was spring break for the schools, so the museum was packed with children and their parents. Also, the parking lot had some challenges to finding an open spot. But nonetheless I went, and had a good time overall. There's four floors, they did a really good job of creating different types of exhibits, some with live animals / reptiles, some with recreated natural habitats, some walkthroughs over the computer montiors, and movie/film showings. There's a lot of different exhibits to digest in this museum. From underwater creatures to dinosaurs to crystals and rocks. Overall, I would say the museum appeals more to children than adults. I'm still making my way through all of the Balboa museums, but I wouldn't go to this museum if I didn't have children. With that being said, this is a very children friendly museum! Great activity to take your kids to. It's very interactive and very entertaining with all of the large dinosaurs and animals they recreated.

One Star for the Fleet Center IMAX experience. One Star for the IMAX James Hood's film Beautifica 360. I have not been to the Fleet Center in Balboa Park for years. When my dad was alive, we were members and went to nearly every IMAX production. Films were so creative and made you feel like you were onsight with the filming crew. On Friday, my husband and I and a friend went to see Beautifica 360. Oh my, how things have changed. Fleet Staff checked tickets, then stamped your wrist with a BIG red stamp 2 1/2 inches by 1 inch. The lobby was filled with "trinklets and trash" for sale for Beautifica. And, the concession area was large with blinking lights. Popcorn and large sodas with a lot of ice seemed to be the most popular purchases. We selected seats upstairs. Our IMAX experience was overwhelmed by the sound of crunching popcorn eaters and soda drinkers. Ice is noisy as it bangs around the plastic cup. Both distracted from the IMAX experience. Folks were filming the show. The Fleet projectionist used a red laser to get their attention to turn off their cell phone. But, they ignored it and it only caused more distraction. The couple in front of us not only filmed, but, were scrolling through messages. James Hood's Beautifica 360 is not worth the ticket price. Narration--when you could hear it--was repetitive and preachy. Graphics were mainly geometric squares, circles, etc, done by computer. Repetitive, odd colors and at times, boring. About a dozen folks upstairs walked out.

I haven't been here in years. Went a week ago for the Nat at Night. My friend planned this date and it was great. Admission was half price at the door after 5pm, around 11$ per ticket. Thanks Jenny! This was the last day for the Nat at Night of the year. I believe it resumes next summer. With the time change, the sun set right before we went in. It felt cool to be in the museum after normal hours and at nighttime--kinda like staying up late during a sleepover when we were kids. The museum itself is amazing. Old stuff is cool! We did the sketch party which was drawing on a little picnic style table covered in white paper. Colored pencils and markers were provided. Jenny's drawing was wayyyy better. Posting a picture of mine for reference. Make sure to take pictures of your masterpieces because you cannot take it home. After we explored some more, we got mocktails and went to the rooftop where most everyone was. Right as we got there, it started to rain so we went back inside and looked at more old stuff. Before we left, we went back to the rooftop and enjoyed some decent views of the park. A great place to take your better half, a date, and older kids. Highly recommend doing this next summer as part of a great day in San Diego.

Got to visit the Nat for the first time last Fridy night during their summer event Nat at Night. Overall, it was a good experience. We got to visit the rooftop, which had a nice view, but I wish we got their sooner and got to experience the sunset. We grabbed some drinks and walked around the museum. I was expecting more exhibits, but it was enjoyable. At least I can say that I got to cross it off my list.

Wonderful museum! Great if you have passes, pays for itself after 2 visits with a family of 4. Changes year around and has plenty of areas to learn about and interactive activities. So many things too look at. Handicap wheelchair accessible Clean restrooms Helpful Docents and volunteers Plenty of picture opportunities and lots of room for the littles to run and play. Enjoy

This was one of the most expensive public museums with limited items of interest. It took about an hour to walk through. The lower level was closed so could I have %20 off for that, another %20 off for the library and closed door research floor which leave the other 3 floors actually housing exhibits. They were staffing eight people on the registers for the 1 pm Sunday rush. Literally one very nice volunteer discussed Megaladon teeth. There were no other visible guides using the latest witty museumisms. Very expensive flat experience which, I expected better from San Diego. This is a very missed opportunity to have made something special and it underwhelms. Currently it is in my history so, I am recording it not to repeat it.

A nice museum overall - clean, lots of interesting facts, and some neat exhibits to look at. That said, I was a little underwhelmed especially since the admission was $25 per person. Most of the models were replicas and there wasn't anything super unique. It was pretty quick to get through the entire museum even with taking our time. I think it would be more fun as a child. As a tourist, I wish I had chosen another museum for my visit, but if I was a local it would be fun to go during discount or free days.

NHM and is a must visit Museum. It is a great place to explore especially with the kiddos. There is plenty to see and do during your visit. You can enjoy live animals, kids play areas, presentations, a cafe, a rooftop area and so much more. Dedicate a few hours because it is a fairly large museum with four floors plus a rooftop area with spectacular views. I highly recommend this museum because it's very educational, entertaining and budget friendly.

I love Natural History Museum in LA and wanted to check out the one in SD. This place is cool! With all the things to see. I feel it's good for all ages. It's 3 stories. We were able to see a show about the largest Dinosaur. Pretty cool as an adult that I'm learning things about Dinosaurs. My favorite thing to see is the floor with all dyne crystals and gems. I'm the area with the books they have a place up stairs for the kids. They have book and bean bags. Nice little quiet area. Definitely check it out if your in the San Diego are. It's nice because around it you can walk around and the SD Zoo is really close by.

This is not a museum for adults. It's definitely geared strongly towards children. There was nothing here that I felt belonged in a museum.

I love that for a few months the museum is open until 10pm and the rooftop is open on Fridays. They have Wolf in the Woods catering the food which are a lot of finger food options, on the expensive side unfortunately, but some drinks and a small snack are a fun activity to do with friends or your significant other. Families can even go on the roof too. It was fun walking around the museum late but I wish the shows were being shown after 5pm and have there be more interactive activities. The rooftop should be open more often than Fridays too!

This was a fun stop while exploring Balboa Park. The museum was a lot bigger than I expected when I first saw it from outside and had so many different exhibits to enjoy. We really enjoyed their Unshelved exhibit - different exhibit items that were brought out of storage for viewing. It was a little random, but it made it so much more fun to look through. Their living lab is also a cool stop to look at all the different creatures in their habitats - and also fun to spend the time searching for them. I had been to the Los Angeles Natural History Museum previously, so I wasn't sure what to expect here. But I was impressed by how large it was and how many different exhibits they had to explore. We spent about 3 hours here, but I could see how you could easily spend many more hours exploring all they had to offer. They also have a little cafe on the ground floor that was a good break to grab a snack and sit down. This is a fun stopping point to explore while you're at Balboa Park.

This was an amazing spot to go with the kids !! I loved all the hands on areas where the kids could take a break and read books or learn about what they were seeing .

I love this place and what it offers! we come here all the time, I just had an uncomfortable experience with an employee there. I didn't catch her name but we were ending our day and going to the lobby floor, she ended up going in the same elevator as us so I can understand it was a bit crowded. Keep in mind it's me, 2 older sisters, 2 toddlers in strollers and 2 little girls. She was standing next to my son and he lightly reached to touch her walkie talkie. She ended up saying OH PLEASE DONT TOUCH ME very passive aggressively elevator door opened and she immediately walked out and into the employee door. We were all kind of thrown back to the way she talked to a speech delayed 3 year old. It was upsetting I feel like this situation could've been handled differently on her end keeping in mind there is a lot of children at that museum.

We paid a visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum because we wanted our little one to have some education on the vacation as well. First off, parking was difficult since we arrived in the afternoon on a holiday weekend... the lots were packed and I almost gave up before dropping the family off and finding parking in a lot on the edge of the park. The museum itself is nice- 4 stories and definitely geared more towards kids. I thought the dinosaur/fossil exhibit was done really well and that was my favorite part of the museum besides a photography exhibit that was rotated in when we visited. Overall a nice visit but geared for jr high and under kids.

Another great museum and way to learn while having fun with family. First off...there are 4 floors ( elevators too) with so much to see. Regardless of your age or your kids, this is something everyone will enjoy. Their gems collection is very nice. No matter how many times you come, you'll learn something each time.

We visited the museum to attend a wedding. It's a great museum. The exhibits are well curated. The rooftop area was the location for the ceremony and the first floor was where the reception and dinner were held. The wedding venue staff was excellent. However, we found the regular museum staff to be mediocre and somewhat indifferent. That was quite surprising. I don't know what it costs to visit as our attendance was free but it really does look like a great family museum. There's also lots of things around the area to visit so I suggest the Balboa Park area as a great family outing.

I came across the SD Natural History Museum and saw the sign saying it was closed on Wed and Thurs. I saw people inside though, so I went in, and apparently they are open during March for spring break, so you should always call ahead to make sure. The theater showings are included in price of museum admission which is pretty cool; really comfortable in there too, I almost fell asleep. I didn't though because the showings were interesting. I liked the Dinosaur one vs the Oceans. The exhibits are interesting too, though the gem stones exhibit isn't all in one place - they are located in one section on each floor. Great museum to peruse and learn! The staff is super friendly too!

It's a nice museum and a good way to spend an hour or so when visiting Balboa Park. I liked it. I didn't love it. The staff are pleasant enough but not very friendly and welcoming.

Initally after entering the main entrance, it was pretty cool to see the pendulum and the big fossils. But that quickly evaporated as we went floor by floor and it just got hotter and hotter. It was a downer to be museuming in the upper floors and be sweating every step and to always have to divert my stroller to elevator cause of the lack of ramps.

We are a family that loves museums. We do. We visit one every place we go. This museum was free entrance for 4 people. It participates in The Discovery Center ASTC Travel Passport Program which means you get access to about 300 museums and discovery center around the WORLD! That means endless joy for my family. It's so worth it to get that membership and check every city you go. This place was so beautiful. Life like sharks hanging from the ceilings and endless animals to learn about .

Despite being a San Diego native, I actually have never visited this place growing up. Since we have a 3-year family membership at a reciprocating museum, we decided to take advantage of the free admission when we went down for our SoCal family trip. There are many interesting exhibits but overall the museum is on the smaller side IMO. I'm glad we decided to split our day between here and the Fleet Science Center because there's not enough to keep the kids entertained for the whole day... Also I was very bummed about the food selections at their small cafe (and the prices they charge). I'm glad we visited so we know what it's like but not sure if we would return again anytime soon...

I visited this museum for the first time a couple weekends ago and can't wait to come back. We purchased the Annual Passes for all the Museums at Balboa Park and so far it was a great purchase. This museum is incredible. It's huge and there are so many things to do and to look at. We even watched a movie in their awesome theater that has stadium seating! They have a great little cafe downstairs by the theatre too with all kinds of snacks and for very low prices which surprised me. I would think that they would charge a ton for simple items like a theme park or something but that was not the case. I was able to get a Ham and Cheese Sandwich, a P&J Uncrustable, a Cobb Salad and bag of chips for around $20.00. Everyone who worked there was very nice and seemed to really take pride in their position. It was super air conditioned inside, I had to eventually put a sweater on. They have plenty of restrooms that were very clean and all gender neutral which I thought was cool. This museum is great for people of ALL ages!! We were with a small child and loved it just as much as she did. We were there for a couple hours and maybe saw 1/3 of what they have! I am really looking forward to going back and highly recommend purchasing the annual passes.

I had a great time at the Natural History Museum! We went during their summer "Nat at Night" where the museum is open late on Friday nights (and admission is half price)! It was fun to get a cocktail on the rooftop and enjoy the view, and then walk around the museum and check out all the exhibits. I learned a lot and had fun doing it!

It's small but mighty. They manage to cram in a lot of stuff. What's most impressive is how much they have adapted the museum to make it child friendly while also making it a place that adults can learn from.

This is a great, interactive museum for kids. We went as a couple because we love history, but it was pretty sparse in our opinion. We enjoyed the museum in Chicago much better. It spans across four floors but the first floor is mostly the theater, the second floor has many displays, the third and fourth floor have a few things to see. There is a dinosaur section, but it's small. They have a scavenger hunt for kids at one of the displays. I still think it's worth seeing if you're taking kids out for the day.

San Diego Natural History Museum is my favorite! Being a local I'm already so lucky to have Balboa Park which is a museum itself, but walking up the stairs leading in is so regal. There's a bunch of exhibits that keep me coming back. My favorite being the taxidermy and bones storage area and of course the dinosaurs. The history museum also host a bunch of fun, date night activities! The last one we attended was a candlelight performance and we had the whole museum to ourselves. It was super cool!

I was disappointed by the small collections on display and the haphazard organization. Only the main floor has exhibit halls that can go deep; the other four are mainly holding display cases around a very large atrium with one smaller exhibit space on each. What is presented is very disjointed and largely superficial. There's a real opportunity for the museum to double down with substantive depth and story on the San Diego aspects of its three (unstated) focuses: local gemology (the least developed area), local ecosystem, and local fossil records. There could be very compelling narratives and meaningful context around all three. Instead, you get a hodgepodge that seems to reflect myopic sponsor interests that happen to be in the sane building. What's particularly sad is that the building blocks are there but minimally developed and made into compelling narratives that would stand out is interesting ways. The fossil room has hints of that whereas the ecosystems room is wasted for propaganda on saving species (good cause but tritely treated). The room of random finds is a microcosm of the museum's innate treasures wasted in weak presentation. And the gemology displays waste their opportunity to delve into the regions history and geology around its gems. It's great the building is being renovated. But that's just a shell, What's in the building isxwhat needs the real attention. .

The San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park may be dwarfed by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, but I'm fascinated by the quality and perspective of its permanent and special exhibits.  Its newest permanent exhibition, "Expedition Baja", opened in May 2022 in a new 2,000sf gallery on the top floor of the Museum.  It allows visitors to experience the biodiversity of the Baja California Peninsula. We've traveled the Baja, and this exhibition is the real deal. The NAT, as it's affectionately known, does a great job curating and exhibiting with Southern California as its viewpoint. The various permanent exhibits benefit greatly from it, providing lessons on the natural history of both Alta e Bala California.

Literally awful - hardly anything on display just a bunch of images printed on the walls and the first floor was mostly closed. I used to love this place as a kid but as an adult there is nothing to see. The sections that have more space, are overrun with children's displays making it impossible to get around. I don't recommend going here anymore.

The many years growing up as a kid that I have been to Balboa Park with my parents that there was so much to see when you go to the many places that are located at Bal Boa Park it has its own history and you look amongst the many building that you see there are the many that have been there for many years. The park itself has so many Treasures that you can take one day and maybe two days to go through the whole yet the many areas of the park that have such great history are the main Prado and the many Museums that the park has hosted for many years. The many museums itself is the many years of searching the many cvreat6ionjhs that the many years of research that have come across the many great finds from around the world and the many countries. The large science and aerospace museum that has the many great advancements and also the women in flight and the years of aerospace research and the years of flight. The one great Museum that has the whole world and the many centuries and the many exhibits that tell the different species and the plant formations that were discovered by scientists that have devoted their lives work to the discovery of dinosaur's that had roamed the earth many milli8ons of years ago when you go through the floors your eyes open to the world. When you take the day and go further into the Natural History Museum you get to see more of the living lab that has the live specimens that are the spiders and the snakes and the 8-legged bugs and the those that have scales. The many areas of history and science that are combined it gives you a chance to see what scientists do and how they catalog what they find letting you see and actual science camper that is used in the field. There is also movie presentation that gives a close up look of the many areas of science and the Ocean research to the many areas of world history and the discovery of minerals and the ancient civilizations through the years the world of History and Science are the greatest. The large hanging sea animals that are the large whale and the many breads of birds that can be of the prehistoric age and those that are found in other countries. If you're a student and studying world and Natural History, you will enjoy the Natural History Museum and the many levels that it holds the many treasures and the many discoveries that were from the early 20th century until now. The great staff they have at the museum very good, and they had told me about the many other floors that had some of the greatest exhibit's that I found my day the park and the Museum wonderful experience.

Some nice and educational exhibits. It was great to see the happy faces of the children in the Living Lab. The interior is in need of a facelift as it is somewhat dowdy. The gift store and cafe are useless. There are better food options in Balboa Park. I was disappointed in the Baja California exhibit. It wasn't compelling for me.