Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is one of our favorite places for a long visit.  The bird room has stuffed birds, eggs and dioramas of different habitats. The mammal room has the classic stuffed animals with updated signage. A mineral room has various minerals displayed under different kinds of light. The Chumash room has dioramas, examples of boats, pottery and language.  The ocean room has displays on the different kinds of ocean environments. The Curiosity Lab is kid friendly with hands on activities that rotate so there is always a new one to do. The backyard area has a man made creek (with no poison oak!) to explore and buckets, small boats and tools to play with for hours.

Our favorites include the backyard area (for the 5 year old), the Curiosity Lab (for the 8 year old) and the bird room (for mama).

Cost: $12/$7
Family memberships: Start at $99

Hours: 10 am - 5 pm (COVID times only open Wed-Sun 10-5 reservations recommended, masks requested)
Time: 1 hour + (much longer when we go to the backyard)
Location: 2559 Puesta del Sol near the Santa Barbara Mission
Parking: There is a free parking lot next to the museum.
More Information: https://www.sbnature.org/
Nearby: Santa Barbara Mission and Rocky Nook Park (paths at Rocky Nook)

Events and free days: Free days are once a month September-April are listed here. There are special exhibits in summer. Summer 2019 has a prehistoric forest (dinosaur) exhibit and the butterfly pavilion. 

Chumash Artifacts

Chumash Baskets

Prehistoric Times 

Mineral Room

Habitats 

Bird Species

Ocean Environments

Habitats