What's Cool at Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Carnegie Museum of Natural History is one of the top must-see destinations in Pittsburgh.

On a visit to CMNH, you’ll find yourself roaming the halls exploring parts of the world and history you never thought possible in Pittsburgh, PA. It makes for a great afternoon for the whole family! Of course, we all have our favorite parts of the museum to browse for hours on end.

Here are four can’t-miss experiences brought to you by the awesome personalities at CMNH.

Dinosaurs

It’s a little-known fact that Pittsburgh loves its dinosaurs. In fact, finding all the hidden dinos in town is a fun game for visitors!

CMNH is home to three original fossils of the most famous dinosaurs, which are on display in Dinosaurs in Their Time, as well as dozens of other original fossils from the Mesozoic Era. The paleontology team at CMNH is world-class, with new discoveries like Tratayenia rosalesi, a predator discovered in Patagonia, and Thanos... that’s right, Thanos:

Fun Fact: Head paleontologist Matt Lamanna is a local celebrity and even guest starred on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

Gems and Minerals

One of the finest collections and displays of gems and minerals in the world can be found at CMNH. Exploring the Hillman Hall will dazzle the mind with more than 1,300 specimens from all over the world. The variety on color, shape, and texture is should to amaze.

And don’t miss the Wertz Gallery of gems and jewelry, where you can see want all the natural specimens look like when crafted into some of the most beautiful jewelry you’ve ever seen.

Find out more about gems and minerals of the world with CMNH’s Ask a Scientist Series:

From Egypt to Pittsburgh

Every object has a story to tell, and Carnegie Museum of Natural History's new exhibit focuses on that theme with The Stories We Keep: Conserving Objects from Ancient Egypt from now through March 9, 2025.

CMNH has more than 5,000 objects from ancient Egypt, and most have never been seen by the public. This new exhibit highlights 80 of these items with unprecedented access that includes seeing them cared for and restored in real time, talk to a conservator and try your own handiwork on a replica.

Go Beyond a Normal Visit

Carnegie Museum of Natural History is a blast no matter when you visit, but be on the lookout for special events and ways to make your next visit even more special:

Super Science Saturdays - Geared for children ages 5-12, each Super Science Saturday is uniquely themed and has stations set up throughout the museum offering hands-on activities, crafts, special exhibits and experts to help you learn even more.
21+ Nights - You've never enjoyed a museum like this! Grab an adult beverage (N/A available, too) and head to events that range from Jurassic Park trivia night to costume parties that explore the fact and fiction at the Haunted Museum.
Café Carnegie - We get it, most people don't prioritize eating at the museum they're visiting. But Café Carnegie will change that in just one visit with a fantastic menu, beautiful ambiance and walk-up wine and espresso bar.