Museum on the Move

As the U-M Museum of Natural History (UMMNH) staff prepares to relocate the Museum to the Biological Science Building, our latest exhibit, Museum on the Move, shows that a big move to a new building isn’t quite as new and different as it seems.

It turns out that the UMMNH has moved, shifted and changed many times throughout its 180-year existence. The roots of today’s Museum were formed with the creation of a Cabinet of Natural History in the late 1830s. Since then, there have been public displays in three buildings and the style of the displays has changed from encyclopedic to interactive.

Historic images, plans for the new museum, and past exhibit favorites retrieved from storage show where we’ve come from and where we’re headed in this new exhibit about our past and future. Museum on the Move is located in our Temporary Exhibit Gallery on the fourth floor.

(Image left: rendering of the University Museum building, drawn c. 1880 by William LeBaron Jenney, Architect.  Image top right: rendering of the Ruthven Museums building, drawn in 1927 by Albert Kahn Associates. Image bottom right: rendering of the new Biological Science Building, future home of the U-M Museum of Natural History by Design Team SmithGroupJJR/Ennead Architects. (C) 2015 University of Michigan.)

Bristle Mammoth Exhibit and Opening Events

The Bristle Mammoth remains found last fall near Chelsea, Michigan, will go on display at the UMMNH with a weekend of special programs, hands-on activities, and extended hours.

Visitors will be able to touch a real Bristle Mammoth bone, see some of the evidence for human activity at the site (such as the removal of edible tissues from parts of the carcass), and explore how the Bristle Mammoth’s bones, teeth and tusks will help scientists understand how these animals lived and why they went extinct. The Bristle Mammoth (pronounced BRIS-lee) is named for James and Melody Bristle, the farming family who found the remains on their property and donated them to the university.

The Museum and all public mammoth-related events are free.

Public Lecture: The Bristle Mammoth

Bristle Mammoth Exhibit 

Opening Weekend

Scientist Spotlight Sunday

The Puma is keeping his eye on the construction of his new home at the new Biological Science Building–the future location of the U-M Museum of Natural History!

The exterior of the building will be covered in a rainscreen of terra cotta tiles designed to enhance the building's energy efficiency.

Fall 2016 Events

Check out all of our events on our website.

Fun Friday Night

ID Day