Cleveland Museum of Natural History

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History in University Circle is an institution with an extensive collection of scientific specimens and displays. The galleries showcase fossils, minerals, preserved animals, and archaeological finds that document the natural history and past inhabitants of the region.

The museum was founded in 1920 and grew into a research institution focused on scientific collections and regional understanding. Over the decades, it became an important center for documenting and interpreting the natural heritage of the area.

The museum serves as a place where visitors encounter the natural story of the region through objects found locally and across scientific fields. The displays show how human discovery and the study of nature have shaped understanding of this part of the world.

Plan to spend several hours exploring, as the museum features multiple large galleries covering different subjects and time periods. The building is centrally located in University Circle and accessible to visitors with varying mobility needs.

The museum holds fossils of Dunkleosteus terrelli, a massive armored fish from the Devonian period discovered in local shale deposits. This creature was a formidable predator in ancient oceans and the specimens here offer a rare close look at this extinct species.

Location: Cuyahoga County

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Address: 1 Wade Oval Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

Opening Hours: Monday,Tuesday,Thursday-Saturday 10:00-17:00; Wednesday 10:00-22:00; Sunday 12:00-17:00|| January 1,July 4,August 27-31,December 25 off

Phone: +(216)2314600

Website: https://cmnh.org

GPS coordinates: 41.51168,-81.61297

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06