The Nat Blog

Digital Storytelling

Posted: February 22, 2016

Part of our mission is to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment, but that can sometimes be a tricky proposition within the four walls of our Museum. How can we deepen a visitor’s appreciation for the region within our exhibition spaces and through our online presence?  Read more.


The best paleontological discoveries are not always are made in the field. Some new fossils are found in the laboratory by our preparators. One recent find included a partial fossilized skeleton of an ancient crocodile.  Read more.


Where was the San Diego Natural History Museum in 1915 when the Panama-California Exposition opened in Balboa Park and put San Diego on the map? We were not yet located within Balboa Park. Read more about the Museum's history here.  Read more.


Drew Stokes is a veteran wildlife biologist at the San Diego Natural History Museum. In this blog post, you'll learn more about his background and what got him hooked on our winged friends, bats. Read more. Read more.


Top 4 Myths about Bats

Posted: October 26, 2015

With Halloween quickly approaching, we thought it suitable to dispel some common myths about our winged friends, bats. Take a look at some facts and fiction shared by Drew Stokes (a.k.a. The Batman), wildlife biologist with the Department of Birds and Mammals at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Read more.  Read more.


Dig Deeper with Wifarer at theNAT

Posted: October 20, 2015

Have you ever found yourself enjoying an exhibition but really in need of a bathroom? Have you ever wanted to see what happens behind the scenes here at theNAT? Have you ever wanted to see Ms. Frizzle outside of our Wacky Science Sunday shows? Well, we have some exciting news! We are launching a new mobile app called Wifarer at theNAT so you can do just that. Read more. Read more.


Finally, after more than 100 years of being tucked away in our Research Library for safekeeping, Albert Valentien’s elegant and imaginative watercolors of the wildflowers of California will be available to the public. Extraordinary Ideas from Ordinary People: A History of Citizen Science, a new permanent exhibition currently under construction, will showcase Valentien’s stunning works. Read more.  Read more.


The Hidden World of the Maritime Maya

Posted: September 15, 2015

The amazing part about being an archaeologist is the adventurous effort needed in order to discover the facts about an ancient civilization, especially for the legendary Maya. Unearthing venerable relics, climbing through abandoned caverns dedicated to gods, and understanding how it all came to be can be found here, do you dare venture further to learn more? Read more.


After years of research, miles of field work, and countless hours poring over herbarium specimens and scientific publications, Curator of Botany Jon Rebman, Ph.D., has discovered seven cacti that are new to science. These newly named species, just published in the scientific journal Madroño: A Western American Journal of Botany, include six chollas and one species of prickly-pear, all endemic to the Baja California region. Read more.  Read more.


Exhibits are at the heart of the museum experience for most people, but how is an exhibit made? What are necessary steps to see an exhibit come to life? And what do exhibits teams do exactly? This is exactly what a group of middle school campers learned last summer. Read more. Read more.