The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History

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Have you picked up the Summer 2026 issue of Iowa Magazine yet?We're delighted to see the University of Iowa Museum of Na...
06/16/2026

Have you picked up the Summer 2026 issue of Iowa Magazine yet?

We're delighted to see the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History featured in their special issue, Hawks of a Feather, with the story "UI’s Ornithological Archive Offers Bird’s-Eye View of History" by Leah Klevar and stunning imagery by Seth Diehl.

Featuring a remarkable selection of birds and eggs from our galleries and collections, the story explores how ornithological specimens help researchers understand a changing world:

“Perched behind glass or tucked in drawers, some of the birds date as far back as the museum’s founding in 1858, while others are more recent acquisitions from members of the public, the Iowa Raptor Project, and academic research collections. Each one serves as an ecological time capsule that can yield vital clues about climate and biodiversity.”

The feature is beautifully presented in both the print issue and online ( ), where you'll also find the visually rich Meet the Flock section highlighting some of the special specimens in our care. Check it out!

The 2026 Conference is off to an incredible start, and we're proud to host museum professionals from across the country...
06/10/2026

The 2026 Conference is off to an incredible start, and we're proud to host museum professionals from across the country here this week.

But tonight, we won't be the hosts. Iowa City, you're up 🥂

One of AAMG's favorite traditions is the Affinity Dinners, where colleagues in various roles within the museum field gather around shared interests, challenges, and ideas to continue the conversation beyond the conference sessions. Tonight, some of our favorite local restaurants are hosting.

AAMGers, meet your hosts for the evening:

🍽️ Nodo | Decentralized Museums
🍽️ Pullman Bar & Diner | Museums in Crisis
🍽️ Basta Pizzeria Ristorante | Directors
🍽️ Trumpet Blossom Café | Exhibit
🍽️ Installation Tips & Tricks Exchange
🍽️ Bo-James | Empowering Student Employees
🍽️ St. Burch Tavern | Teaching with Objects
🍽️ Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar | Public Programming: Creative with Community & Collaborative Exhibit Development
🍽️ Reunion Brewery | Marketing-Focused Professionals
🍽️ Sumo Sushi & Hibachi | Bilingual Museum Initiatives
🍽️ Wilder at Graduate Iowa City | Building Projects, Renovations & Construction Conversations

Enjoy the food, the conversation, and the chance to connect with colleagues old and new. We'll see you back at the conference tomorrow.

If you're not here for the conference but thinking of visiting Iowa City this summer, just look at all the perfect spots to dine within walking distance of YOUR museums!

For one night only, Art & Write Night is leaving the Museum of Natural History and heading to the Old Capitol Museum!📍 O...
06/04/2026

For one night only, Art & Write Night is leaving the Museum of Natural History and heading to the Old Capitol Museum!

📍 Old Capitol Museum
🕔 Friday, June 5 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Join us during 's Summer Gallery Walk this Friday. Pick up a Gallery Walk passport, collect stamps around downtown, and explore our latest exhibit, Thrift Style.

While you're here, stop by our special Art & Write Night pop-up! Sketch Old Cap's iconic architecture or design your own custom tote bag using fabric paint, stamps, and printmaking techniques inspired by the exhibit. You're also welcome to bring clothing from home to personalize.

📅 Please note: There will be no Art & Write Night in July. The program returns to its regular home at the Museum of Natural History, on the first Friday's of each month, starting again in August.

How does shape creativity?Join us for a special public keynote panel event kicking off the 2026 Association of Academi...
06/04/2026

How does shape creativity?

Join us for a special public keynote panel event kicking off the 2026 Association of Academic Museums and Galleries (AAMG) Conference, hosted right here in Iowa City. This event is free and open to ALL, not only conference registrants.

📍 Hancher Auditorium
🗓 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
⏰ 7:00 p.m.
🎟 Free and open to the public

Together, panelists will explore the role of place in nurturing artistic expression, innovation, and interdisciplinary exchange, and consider how Iowa City's unique cultural landscape and creative ecosystem continues to inspire.

Featuring:
• Moderator: Tammie Walker — Director and Professor, School of Music
• Panelist Cate Dicharry — Director, International Writing Program; former Director, Writing & Humanities Program, Carver College of Medicine
• Panelist Maura Pilcher — Director, Grant Wood Art Colony, Office of Community Engagement
• Panelist Bruce Scherting — Former Director, Project Art and Medical Museum; former Director, Exhibits and Design; former Instructor, Graduate Museum Studies Program
• Panelist Alisa Weinstein — Adjunct Assistant Professor, Anthropology; Administrative Services Coordinator, Creative Writing; Instructor and Co-Founder, Home Ec. Workshop; former Program Coordinator, Iowa Summer Writing Festival

Recognize this guy? 🦞👀While lighting upgrades continue throughout the Diversity of Life exhibits on the ground floor of ...
05/29/2026

Recognize this guy? 🦞👀

While lighting upgrades continue throughout the Diversity of Life exhibits on the ground floor of Macbride Hall, and cases are open, it’s the perfect time for our collections team to give some specimens a little extra TLC ✨

Be sure to stop by and see him next time you visit!

Great news, guys. We do not appear in web search results for "bad taxidermy." Come visit and see for yourself. 👀Museum o...
05/18/2026

Great news, guys. We do not appear in web search results for "bad taxidermy." Come visit and see for yourself. 👀

Museum of Natural History
Iowa City, Iowa
Free admission
Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Before “thrifting” was a trend, it was a necessity. Have you visited the Old Capitol Museum's latest installation yet? T...
05/17/2026

Before “thrifting” was a trend, it was a necessity.

Have you visited the Old Capitol Museum's latest installation yet? Thrift Style is on display now through August 11th. Check out some featured pieces here and come see the full display in person.

This exhibition explores how everyday feed sacks were transformed into dresses, aprons, quilts, toys, and other household essentials during the Great Depression and World War II. Featuring 41 objects, from sewing patterns to finished garments, we highlight the ingenuity of making do, making over, and making something beautiful from what's available. It’s a story of creativity and resilience that still resonates in today’s conversations about sustainability, reuse, and resourcefulness, and it's ready to view now.

Come see what looked like, long before it was a

Last day of finals! Rusty says it's summer. ☀️Our new hours begin soon! Visit this summer Wednesday–Saturday from 10:00 ...
05/15/2026

Last day of finals! Rusty says it's summer. ☀️

Our new hours begin soon! Visit this summer Wednesday–Saturday from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and catch our final Sunday hours THIS Sunday (May 17th) from 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

And remember, no matter the season or the hours...admission is always FREE 😉

(elder millennial googles what gen-z might say for this trend before scheduling post 🫠)
05/14/2026

(elder millennial googles what gen-z might say for this trend before scheduling post 🫠)

Alright, fam. How are finals and move out and summer transitions going?If you've visited during a Study Hall at the Muse...
05/13/2026

Alright, fam. How are finals and move out and summer transitions going?

If you've visited during a Study Hall at the Museum of Natural History (Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. - noon, done for the summer but resuming in Fall), you may have already snagged one of these absolutely perfect "Rusty Affirmation Cards." Send a digital version to a pal who needs it or just keep it for yourself. You're almost to the finish line!

Address

17 N. Clinton Street
Iowa City, IA
52242

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

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