Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at The Nat? Our newest experience offers a rare “backstage” glimpse into the Museum’s collections and research work. Opening June 6, Amazement in the Basement invites people to marvel in the diversity of nature, think like a scientist, and peek into the brand-new Paleontology Center.
Every object in our collection is an irreplaceable piece of evidence that tells the story of life on Earth—and how to protect it. This new exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look at natural history collections and why they matter.
As visitors descend into the basement, they will feel as though they have been given an all-access pass to the Museum. The entry is dominated by a suspended whale skeleton and towering shelves packed with plants, animals, minerals, and fossils that represent just a taste of the 9 million specimens stored behind gallery walls.
From eye-catching taxidermy to beautiful plant pressings and pinned insects, our collections represent the incredible diversity of life on our planet. Visitors will participate in hands-on activities to share in the excitement of discovery, learn how researchers use specimens to answer complex questions, and see scientists at work as they step into the brand-new, state-of-the-art Paleontology Center.
San Diego is one of the most fossil-rich areas in the United States, and our collection is the region’s most important repository for many of them. Now, these fossils have a new home.
The Tom Deméré Paleontology Center is a brand-new collections facility designed with public education in mind. It features a walkthrough passageway showcasing significant local fossil discoveries, windows into an extensive collections area housing the 1.5 million fossils in our care, and a functioning paleontology preparation lab where staff and volunteers work on fossils recovered from construction sites throughout the region.
Visitors can observe the lab through a glass wall, and at designated times, a sliding window allows for direct conversations with interpreters who can explain the ongoing work. Watch scientists in action as they give specimens a little TLC and learn how these specimens help scientists better understand our region’s natural history.
By making these typically behind-the-scenes collections accessible, Amazement in the Basement demystifies the scientific process and invites everyone to appreciate how collection, preservation, and study help us understand the world around us. Future scientists will leave buzzing with their own questions about nature—because there’s still so much to discover.
The exhibition is presented in English and Spanish. It is free for members and Balboa Park Explorers and is included with general admission.
Your support powers our mission to lead with science and inspire conservation. This project is made possible by generous private and public philanthropy. To learn more, contact Eowyn Bates at ebates@sdnhm.org