Trip ideas while visiting Salt Lake City in Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah is the state’s premier institution for exploring the wonders of the natural world. Located in the stunning Rio Tinto Center on the University of Utah campus, the museum is home to world-class collections of dinosaur fossils, glittering gem and mineral displays, and fascinating exhibits on the cultures and ecosystems that call Utah home. The building itself is a work of art, perched on the hillside with sweeping panoramic views of the Wasatch Range and the Salt Lake Valley below.
From the moment you step inside, the museum captivates visitors with its dramatic architecture and immersive exhibits. The Grand Hall immediately draws the eye with a towering fossil mount of a prehistoric sea monster suspended from the ceiling, setting the tone for an unforgettable visit. The museum’s commitment to accessibility and hands-on learning makes it one of the most engaging family destinations in the entire state.
History and Culture
The Natural History Museum of Utah was founded in the 1960s and has called several locations home over the decades. The museum’s collection grew primarily from specimens gathered by University of Utah researchers and field expeditions across Utah’s remote corners. What began as a modest academic collection has grown into a renowned public institution visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year.
Utah is one of the richest fossil-hunting grounds on the planet, and the museum’s collections reflect that extraordinary legacy. The discovery of Utahraptor in the Cedar Mountain Formation of eastern Utah put the state on the map for dinosaur science, and the museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of Cretaceous-period dinosaur fossils. Scientists affiliated with the museum continue to make groundbreaking discoveries in the field, bringing new knowledge back to Utah and sharing it with the public through ever-evolving exhibits.
What to See
The museum’s collections are organized into a series of permanent galleries that take visitors on a journey through time and across the globe. The Great Hall anchors the building with its spectacular fossil mounts and interactive timeline panels that put Utah’s prehistoric creatures in context. Nearby, the Native American Cultures Gallery explores the histories, arts, and traditions of Utah’s indigenous peoples with respect and depth.
The Past Worlds gallery showcases Utah’s dinosaurs in extraordinary detail, featuring original fossil specimens mounted in dynamic poses. Notable highlights include the massive Allosaurus, the razor-clawed Utahraptor, and the armored Gastonia. Each exhibit includes detailed interpretive panels written for general audiences, making paleontology accessible to visitors of all ages. The Earth Gallery features an impressive collection of gems and minerals, including brilliant crystals, ancient fossils, and specimens that illustrate the geological processes that shaped Utah’s dramatic landscapes.
The Life gallery takes visitors from the smallest microorganisms to the largest mammals, examining ecosystems around the world and the adaptations that allow species to survive in extreme environments. A living terrarium and aquarium bring living animals into the museum, offering a contrast to the fossil halls.
What to Do
The museum offers a range of interactive experiences that go far beyond simply looking at displays. Mythic Creatures is a hands-on activity area where visitors, particularly children, can examine fossils up close, participate in mock archaeological digs, and learn the scientific method through play. The museum’s Discovery Table programs, offered daily, allow visitors to touch real fossils, artifacts, and specimens under the guidance of trained museum educators.
Guided docent tours depart throughout the day and offer deeper insight into the collections than self-guided visits can provide. These tours are included with general admission and are a great way to learn about the stories behind the specimens. For school groups, the museum offers structured educational programs aligned with Utah state curriculum standards, making it a favorite destination for field trips across the Wasatch Front.
Special traveling exhibitions rotate throughout the year, bringing nationally recognized shows to Salt Lake City that would otherwise require a trip to major metropolitan museums. Past exhibitions have covered topics ranging from ancient Egypt to the science of space exploration.
Outdoor Recreation
The museum’s location on the University of Utah campus places it at the gateway to some of Salt Lake City’s finest outdoor recreation. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail begins near the museum and offers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that follow the ancient shoreline of Lake Bonneville, the massive Ice Age lake that once covered much of the Great Basin.
A short drive or bus ride from the museum brings visitors to Red Butte Garden, one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West, and the trailheads for Mount Olympus and the Wasatch Range foothills. In winter, the same mountains offer ski trails and snow-covered paths for hiking, making the museum an ideal rainy-day or cold-weather complement to an outdoor adventure itinerary.
Attractions
The museum campus includes the Café at the Museum, which serves lunch and snacks with panoramic views of the Wasatch Range. The Museum Store offers a curated selection of science-themed gifts, fossil replicas, gemstone jewelry, and books about natural history that make memorable souvenirs of a visit.
For those planning a broader Salt Lake City itinerary, the museum pairs naturally with visits to Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol, and Red Butte Garden, all of which are within a short drive. The museum’s proximity to University of Utah athletics venues also makes it a convenient addition to a weekend that includes catching a Utes football or basketball game.
When to Visit
The Natural History Museum of Utah is open year-round, but the best time to visit depends on your schedule and interests. Summer months bring the largest crowds, particularly on weekends and during school vacation periods, when the museum’s hands-on exhibits and air-conditioned galleries make it a popular escape from the heat. Summer also coincides with the peak of field trip season, so weekday mornings tend to be less crowded than afternoons.
Spring and fall offer a quieter experience with smaller crowds and mild temperatures ideal for combining a museum visit with a hike in the nearby foothills. Winter is the slowest season, and visitors during the holiday months are often treated to special seasonal decorations and programming that add extra charm to the experience.
The museum is located just 10 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City and is easily accessible by car or public transit via the Utah Transit Authority’s TRAX light rail system, which stops at the University Medical Station near the museum entrance.