Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

08/26/2026

Catch us at the Verve Summer Market this Saturday August 29th, 9am-2pm! Grab your coffee and stroll Verve's popup market with local vendors, ceramics, plants, food, vintage items, and jewelry! Don't miss out on the last market of this summer series!

08/25/2026

Join the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project on September 10th for an overview of salmonids, their lifecycle, ecology, and the natural and human-caused threats they face. Learn more about the history of MBSTP, their various programs, and how they contribute to salmonid conservation in the Monterey Bay. This lecture will explore the differences between hatchery models, highlighting how their work focuses on conservation, genetic diversity, disease mitigation, ecosystem health and optimizing wild survival. Register today! https://loom.ly/jF-9Qpo

08/24/2026

Seaweed Summer may be drifting away, but our events are here to stay! We have a full lineup of events to celebrate the migratory species that make Santa Cruz so special. From Museum free admission on First Friday to our Member Meet up hatchery tour, and our Sip and Draw night, there is something for everyone! Links in bio!

08/21/2026

On August 21, 1905, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History opened its doors with an incredible array of wonders, dried sea stars and crustaceans, Indigenous baskets and mortars, minerals, agates, gems, petrified wood, coral, bird nests and eggs, turtle and tortoise carapaces, and more than two hundred local species of shells. In her opening remarks, Laura Hecox shared that she wasn’t losing anything by gifting her collection to the community — she was “taking everyone else into partnership with her in the enjoyment of it.” Over 120 years later, we’re still continuing her vision and taking everyone into partnership with us for our Bright Future! Take a look through time on our About Us page https://loom.ly/WkNc3MA

08/18/2026

Did you know the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? Today’s the perfect day to show some love for your favorite local museum. Whether you sign up for a Naturalist Night, join a workshop, donate, volunteer, or become a member, every action helps us keep connecting our community with nature, science, and coastal curiosity.

08/17/2026

Ever wonder what’s drifting beneath the waves of Monterey Bay? Plankton are tiny ocean drifters that power our entire coastal ecosystem — and now’s your chance to meet them up close under the microscope! Join us for Plankton 101, a perfect night for curious minds, ocean lovers, and anyone who enjoys learning something new. Register today! https://loom.ly/qZHQ_e4 Links in bio!

08/16/2026

Six years after the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, we continue to honor the many Santa Cruz Mountain residents who lost their homes, histories, and sense of place. The fire reshaped our community in profound ways, and we hold space for everyone still rebuilding, recovering, and remembering.

The CZU Fire revealed how fire is both destructive and essential in California’s ecosystems. Many of our local forests — including coast redwoods, chaparral, and mixed evergreen woodlands — have evolved with fire for thousands of years. Some species even rely on it: redwoods sprout new growth from their bases after intense burns, and chaparral plants use heat to trigger seed germination. As our community heals, the landscape is healing too, reminding us that recovery is a shared, ongoing process for people and ecosystems alike. For educational resources on fire ecology, you can visit our website at https://loom.ly/lG_UN6o

In August 2020, Northern California was ignited by a series of 650 wildfires spurred by dry lightning from rare, massive summer thunderstorms. The resulting CZU Lightning Complex fires burned roughly 80% of the old growth redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains, notably including Big Basin, the....

08/15/2026

Santa Cruz is buzzing today — literally. In honor of National Honey Bee Day, here are a few small but mighty fun facts about our favorite pollinators:

🌺 Honey bees visit 50–100 flowers per trip, making them some of the hardest‑working neighbors on the coast.
🥑 One colony can pollinate millions of flowers a day, supporting everything from wildflowers to backyard avocados.
🐝 Bees talk by dancing — the “waggle dance” tells hive‑mates exactly where the good blooms are.

Today we celebrate the bees, the blooms, and the beautiful ecosystems that keep us alive!

Don't forget to make your day a little sweeter and swing by our Museum Shop to pick up some Lavender Infused Honey from Members get a 10% discount!

08/13/2026

Are you looking for a fun way to volunteer in the community and learn about sustainable gardening? Join us August 15th in Tyrrell Park!

Every third Saturday of the month, we invite volunteers to come together as a community to steward Tyrrell Park through the City’s Adopt-A-Park program. During this volunteering event, you’ll get your hands dirty assisting with the maintenance of the park, our pollinator garden, and Pilkington Creek, while gaining insights into local ecology, native plants, and sustainable gardening.