Welcome!

The mission of the Humboldt State University Natural History Museum, through its collections, exhibits, and programs, is to inspire in North Coast residents and visitors of all ages an understanding and appreciation of the dynamic natural world and to provide a learning laboratory for Humboldt State University students.

Big "Bugs" Are Coming

Big "Bug" Discovery Day
Saturday, October 4
Noon - 5 p.m.
All ages
Free with admission

The Museum devotes a whole day to insects, spiders, millipedes, and more! See live insects, scorpions, tarantulas, “true bugs” and other species in the arthropod family. Explore exhibits on ladybugs, spiders, butterflies and cockroaches. Bug crafts, bug stories and a bug photography show take place all day.

* Meet the Honey Bees - 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Look into our hive with the Museum’s beekeeper, Dick LaForge
*Local Insects Slideshow and Live Insect ID - 1 to 2 p.m. Presented by the authors of “Insects of the Pacific Northwest”, Pete and Judy Haggard. Bring in your garden insects and spiders for Pete and Judy to identify.
* Bugs Around the Block Hikes leaving at 2, 2:30, 3, and 3:30 p.m. Roam around our block with museum director and insect enthusiast, Melissa Zielinski, spotting insects.

Upcoming Events

•HSU Student Appreciation Day, Saturday, September 6
•Docent Training, Fridays, September 12 and 26 from 10 a.m. to noon
•Nature For the Very Young, Thursdays, September 18 and October 9

Local Exhibits

•Shells Of the North Coast. Shells and tests from common invertebrates found on the North Coast.
•Birds Of the Redwoods. This exhibit displays common birds of the redwoods in a setting of well known plants of the coastal redwood forest.
•Local Fossils. These local marine fossils are from rock exposures along the rivers and surrounding hills of the Eel River Valley and from the cliffs of Cranell Junction.

Natural History Links

• Sierra Club has a great guide to global warming solutions
• Friends of the Dunes has two online field guides to local plants and bees
• Castle Rock Seabird Project - live webcam of second largest seabird breeding colony along the California coast