University of California Museum of Paleontology

The University of California Museum of Paleontology is a natural history museum in Berkeley that houses extensive fossil collections from different time periods. Some collections are displayed in a building on campus and feature skeletons of large extinct animals among other specimens.

The collection began with fossils found during geological surveys in 19th century California. The museum was later established and grew into a major research institution.

The displays show fossils that tell stories of extinct life forms and how researchers continue learning from these ancient finds today. The collection connects the campus community with Earth's natural history and makes understanding our planet's past tangible.

Visitors can view fossil displays in a building on campus even though the museum primarily serves research purposes. It helps to check which areas are open and when visiting is possible before you go.

The museum holds fossils from every continent and nearly all known animal groups from past ages. This worldwide collection makes it one of the largest scientific archives of its kind at any university in North America.

Location: California

Inception: 1921

Website: http://ucmp.berkeley.edu

GPS coordinates: 37.87120,-122.26200

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:54