The Natural History Museum of Utah is a museum located in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The museum shows exhibits of natural history subjects, with an emphasis on Utah and the Intermountain West. The mission of the museum is to illuminate the natural world and the place of humans within it.
Located on the University of Utah’s Research Park campus in the foothills above Salt Lake City, the Museum is a vibrant center for research, education, and exploration. Through world-class exhibitions, we are committed to showcasing the rich natural and cultural history of Utah and the surrounding region to foster a deeper understanding of our planet’s past, present, and future. Our public exhibitions are founded on vast scientific collections, which are home to approximately 2 million objects that are carefully preserved for research by the scientists of today and tomorrow.
Established by Utah statute in 1962 to care for specimen and object collections assembled by faculty at the University of Utah, the Utah Museum of Natural History (the original name) opened its doors to the public in 1969 in the George Thomas Building on the university’s main campus. Since then, the Museum’s collections have grown to approximately 2 million objects, our staff has expanded significantly, and our educational offerings have multiplied, solidifying our position as the state’s museum of natural and cultural history. In November 2011, we opened the Museum’s remarkable new home, the Rio Tinto Center, on the Research Park campus of the University of Utah. In this award-winning architectural landmark, with stunning exhibit galleries and state-of-the-art collections facilities, the Natural History Museum of Utah (the new name) is the largest museum in the intermountain west, serving the entire state of Utah and welcoming visitors from around the world.
Our home, the Rio Tinto Center, opened its doors in 2011 and has since become an architectural icon in Salt Lake City. Designed by the award-winning firm Ennead Architects, the building seamlessly integrates with the natural landscape, offering breathtaking views of the city and surrounding mountains. The building’s innovative design reflects our commitment to sustainability, with eco-friendly features such as a green roof and energy-efficient systems.
