Connecticut State Museum of Natural History

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History on the University of Connecticut campus displays fossils, minerals, shells, and preserved specimens of insects, birds, and mammals. The collections appear in rotating exhibitions throughout the university grounds.

The museum was established in 1982 by biology professor Carl Rettenmeyer and gained official state recognition in 1985. This designation allowed for more structured documentation and care of the natural history collections.

The museum houses materials from local excavations and serves as a repository for understanding how people lived in this region over many centuries.

The museum offers rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and activities for various age groups across the campus grounds. Visitors should allow time to explore multiple exhibition locations.

A notable exhibit features an almost complete mastodon skeleton discovered in 1913, representing one of the largest preserved skeletons of this animal in New England. The fossil reveals what ancient animals once lived in this part of the country.

Location: Connecticut

Inception: 1988

Part of: University of Connecticut

Website: http://cac.uconn.edu/mnhhome.html

GPS coordinates: 41.80470,-72.25210

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:46