The San Diego Natural History Museum was founded in 1874 as the San Diego Society of Natural History. The present location of the museum in San Diego's Balboa Park was dedicated on January 14, 1933. It is the second oldest scientific institution west of the Mississippi and the oldest in Southern California. The newest addition to the museum was dedicated in April 2001, doubling exhibit space.

The museum's mission is to interpret the natural world through research, education and exhibits; to promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of southern California and the peninsula of Baja California; and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment.

The museum offers a number of temporary exhibitions. Check their website for current themes. The permanent exhibition is titled "Fossil Mysteries", where you can discover the rich fossil history of our region. In this major exhibition, you'll travel through a 75-million-year timeline, from the age of dinosaurs to the Ice Ages, and experience an unfolding of the prehistory of southern California and Baja California, Mexico.

The museum is also home to the Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Theater, a 300-seat giant-screen theater with multiple capabilities and state-of-the-art acoustics and technology.

Official Web Site

If you are trying to find San Diego Natural History Museum, you have come to the right place. Our map is interactive, includes the streets/major attractions in the immediate area, and can be easily zoomed, reformatted or repositioned to meet your needs. If you see a map that is in error, please email us at maps@mustseesandiego.com.

Map of San Diego Natural History Museum Location