Sternberg Museum of Natural History

The Sternberg Museum of Natural History displays fossils, preserved biological specimens, and rocks from different geological periods across several exhibition halls. The rooms show both small artifacts and large skeleton remains, arranged in cases and along the walls.

The museum was formed by combining two university collections in the 1990s, which led to the construction of a new building with a large dome. The fossil finds come from excavations in rock layers from the Cretaceous period, when Kansas was covered by an ancient sea.

The Sternberg family's fossil discoveries shaped this place, and their work remains visible in how the exhibitions are arranged. The collections tell the story of people who spent lifetimes searching for remains in Kansas landscapes.

The museum is located on Sternberg Drive in the western part of Hays and is easy to reach by car. Visitors should allow plenty of time to explore all exhibition areas, especially if interested in fossils.

One of the most valuable collections displays Pteranodon fossils, flying creatures that soared above ocean bays millions of years ago. Visitors can see remains here that explain how life looked in that ancient sea.

Location: Ellis County

Inception: 1994

Address: 3000 Sternberg Dr,

Website: http://sternberg.fhsu.edu

GPS coordinates: 38.88944,-99.29972

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:45