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Group Visits & Tours

Group Tour Visit Test

The Museum of Natural History is proud to offer tours to our campus and community. Use this page to explore our offerings and schedule a visit.

Types of Tours:

Self-guided Tours

All guests are welcome to explore the museum independently. Embark on a self-paced journey through all galleries at the Museum of Natural History using exhibition panels as your guide. Museum maps and gallery exploration activities are available at the front desks.  

In-person Guided Tours

Get a fresh look at museum exhibits and collections by joining us on an informative and engaging exploration with one of our student Docents. Discover aspects of Iowa's 500-million-year history and dive into our collections at the Museum of Natural History on a guided, in-person tour.

Guided Virtual Tours

We've virtually adapted our galleries to offer the full tour experience in a whole new way. This option covers the same material as our in-person tours, featuring live web interaction with a Docent and bringing our museum to the comfort of your own home or classroom. Let us bring history to you.

Which tour is right for you?

K-12 Students

Make our museums part of your school year. We invite K-12 schools to reserve a visit to one or both of our museums.

K-12 school groups can explore exhibits and collections in the following ways:

  • Self-Guided Visit: Schedule an independent, self-paced exploration.
    • Tour Length: self-determined 
    • Cost: No charge; museum admission is always free 
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH), Bird Hall (MNH), Mammal Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Thank you for scheduling your visit if you are a self-guided group of more than 10. We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
  • In-person Guided Tour: Take a museum adventure with one of our gallery guides. This experience is conversational and interactive. 
    • The sizes of groups we are able to accommodate are dependent upon staffing. Our Visitor Services Coordinator will work with you to best meet your needs.
    • Groups larger than 10 may be split into smaller groups to provide the best visit experience.
    • Chaperones: Preschool groups require 1 adult for every 5 children; K-12 groups require 1 adult for every 10-12 students
    • Tour Length: 45 minutes 
    • Cost: Educational tours for K-12 students are free of charge 
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
  • Guided Virtual Visit: Take an interactive field trip with a gallery guide right from the comfort of your classroom. 

    • We are able to accommodate groups of up to 200 at a time 
    • Larger groups may be split into multiple groups to provide the best experience
    • Tour Length: 45 minutes 
    • Cost: Educational tours for K-12 students are free of charge 
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.

Note: camps, daycare centers, after-school programs, and community organizations please see "General Public" option below

SCHEDULE A TOUR 

College Instructors & Students

Expand your college classroom with a visit to one of our galleries or collections spaces. Lead your own lecture or choose from guided tours; we're here to collaborate and support.

College groups can explore exhibits and collections in the following ways: 

  • Self-Guided Visit: Schedule independent, self-paced exploration.
    • Instructors often reserve gallery spaces to lead their own lecture, letting our exhibits illustrate their teaching goals & objectives. These spaces include the Museum of Natural History's Iowa Hall, Bird Hall, and Mammal Hall.
    • Cost: No charge; museum admission is free and educational gallery reservations for instructor-led presentations are free of charge
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH), Bird Hall (MNH), Mammal Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Thank you for scheduling your visit if you are a group of more than 10. We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
  • In-person Guided Tour: Take a museum adventure with one of our gallery guides. This experience is conversational and interactive. Our standard tour can be tailored to best meet the goals objectives of your curriculum.
    • Tour Length: ~45 minutes
    • Cost: Educational tours for college classes are free of charge
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
  • Guided Virtual Visit: Take an interactive field trip with a gallery guide right from the comfort of your classroom. Our standard tour can be tailored to best meet the goals and objectives of your curriculum.
    • We are able to accommodate groups of up to 200 at a time
    • Larger groups may be split into multiple groups
    • Tour Length: 45 minutes
    • Cost: Educational tours for college students are free of charge
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling

Schedule A Tour  

General Public

Public visitors are individuals or groups including camps, daycare centers, after-school programs, and community organizations. We invite you to reserve a visit to one or both of our museums.

Public groups can explore exhibits and collections in the following ways:

  • In-person Guided Tour: Take a museum adventure with one of our Gallery Guides. This experience is conversational and interactive.
    • Cost: $20 per every 10 people on tour
    • The sizes of groups we are able to accommodate are dependent upon staffing. Our Visitor Services Coordinator will work with you to best meet your needs.
    • Groups larger than 10 may be split into smaller groups to provide the best visit experience.
    • Chaperones: Preschool groups require 1 adult for every 5 children; K-12 groups require 1 adult for every 10-12 students
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
  • Guided Virtual Visit: Take an interactive field trip with a Gallery Guide right from the comfort of your home. 
    • Cost: $20 per group tour
    • We are able to accommodate groups of up to 200 at a time
    • Larger groups may be split into multiple groups
    • Tour Length: 45 minutes
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Required; We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.
  • Self-Guided Visit: Enjoy an independent, self-paced exploration.
    • Tour Length: self-determined
    • Cost: No charge; museum admission is always free
    • Available Galleries: Iowa Hall (MNH), Bird Hall (MNH), Mammal Hall (MNH)
    • Reservations: Thank you for scheduling your visit if you are a group of more than 10. We require a minimum of 4 weeks' notice for scheduling.

Schedule a tour  

Schedule a tour

Schedule a Tour

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The University of Iowa
University of Iowa

University of Iowa Museum of Natural History

11 Macbride Hall
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

319-335-0480
uimnh@uiowa.edu

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