Amherst College has housed natural history collections since its earliest days in the 1820s. The specimens were used in the teaching of science courses, and later as display objects in the several iterations of the museum that have graced the campus. In 2006 the museum's collections and exhibits moved into a new building next to the Campus Center and Fayerweather Hall. The exhibits feature paleontological specimens from around the world, as well as local geology. As an academic museum, our exhibits are interpreted for college students, but members of the public are also welcome. This museum is among largest natural history museums in New England, and it holds the world's largest collection of dinosaur tracks.

The public is welcome to explore our exhibits anytime the museum is open: Tues-Sunday 11 AM to 4 PM, and Thursdays 6 PM to 10 PM. There is no admission fee. For directions and additional information, be sure to visit our website.

Like most museums, the specimens featured in our exhibits represent just a small portion of the museum's actual holdings. The images featured on these albums represent just some of the vast holdings of the museum, material that is not on exhibit but is used for teaching and professional research. There are simply too many fossils, minerals and rocks to display, but we hope to provide viewers with a sense of the kinds of material this museum has collected and taught with over the years. We hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look at some of our collections.