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Virtual Exhibits Include:

Ecology

Redwood Forest

Redwood ExhibitTake a virtual tour of the history of plant evolution as seen through the redwood forest. Link to our exhibits as well as other education sites to learn more about natural history.

Earth History

Arnica FlowerPlant Evolution

Explore the history of plants. Learn why some plants make cones and other plants make flowers. These activites are a great lead in to understanding the redwood forest.

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life through time image

Life Through Time Exhibit

The Museum's fossils collections comprise one of the great strengths of our exhibits. This series of thirteen display cases illustrates the evolution of the Earth and life from the origin of Earth to the present day.

webquest

Learn the story of mammal evolution in North America as illustrated by some fantastic specimens including a complete Archaeotherium skull, mammoth and mastodon teeth and the jaw and teeth of the early horse  Hyracotherium.

webquest

fossil focus imageFossil Focus Exhibits

Explore our collections in more detail in cases devoted to one specific group of organisms such as Trilobites, Echinoderms, Plants, Insects, Stromatolites and more.

webquest coming soon

Local Natural History Exhibits found only at the Museum

Photo of bird in treeBirds of the Redwoods
This new exhibit displays common birds of the redwoods in a setting of well known plants of the coastal redwood forest.

Photo of beeNative Bees
Discover What's Buzzing around Humboldt County Learn about our local bees including the leaf-cutter bee, the woll-carder bee and the silver bee. 

Photo of beetleLocal Insect Diversity
Take a Closer Look at Our Diverse Insects From the dunes to the redwood forest, many different types of insects can be found in Humboldt County. Get up close to a giant long-horned beetle, a beautiful Polyphemus moth and a stumpstabber wasp. 

Photo of shellNorth Coast Seashells
From abalone to sea urchins, there are a great variety of marine invertebrates on California's north coast. This exhibit displays the shells of these local animals, including echinoderms, chitons, bivalves, crustaceans, and gastropods. 

Photo of butterflyButterflies Of Northern California
This exhibit highlights 73 butterfly species in eight habitats of northwestern California. 

Photo of crabs exhibitCrabs of the North Coast
From the huge Tanner crab with 10-inch long legs, to the tiny Squat Lobster, this case includes many specimens of unusual crustaceans from our area. 



Photo of butterfly 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. In a time span of about 4 million years, the rocks containing these fossils formed from marine sediments deposited in ancient marine basins during the Pliocene and Pleistocene Epochs.

Photo of crabs exhibit Corals & Sponges
In deep waters off the Northern California coast trawlers bring up unusual specimens of sponges and corals displayed here.