The Sam Noble Museum at The University of Oklahoma inspires minds to understand the world through collection-based research, interpretation, and education.
(Best Suited for Ages 3-10) Every Wednesday at 11 a.m. we bring stories to life with Crafts and Tales at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History! In this engaging program, children are invited to gather for a lively story time, where fascinating tales spark curiosity and set the stage for exploration. Each session […]
The Sam Noble Museum will be open on New Year's Eve! Celebrate the end of 2025 by reflecting on the expansive history of our world. Have a safe and wonderful holiday!
Happy New Year! The Sam Noble Museum is open for the holiday! Whether you've resolved to learn more about the world around you or just want to enjoy a relaxing holiday with the family, we'll be here to welcome you on the first day of 2026!
(Best Suited for Ages 3-10) Every Wednesday at 11 a.m. we bring stories to life with Crafts and Tales at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History! In this engaging program, children are invited to gather for a lively story time, where fascinating tales spark curiosity and set the stage for exploration. Each session […]
(All Ages) Step into a one-of-a-kind experience that blends the awe of the natural world with the icons of modern media! Paleo to Pop is a dynamic event where natural history collides with pop culture in unexpected and exciting ways. Explore how specimens and objects inspired blockbuster films, video games, comic books, and more!
(Best Suited for Ages 3-10) Every Saturday at 11 a.m. we're hosting Stories & Specimens for children and families! In this engaging program, children are invited to gather for a lively story time, where fascinating tales spark curiosity and set the stage for exploration. Each session dives into a themed topic, connecting stories to science […]
(Best Suited for Adult Audiences) Speaker: Janet Stewart, Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Oklahoma is home to the nation’s largest inventory of upstream flood control dams, an aging yet essential infrastructure system protecting lives, property, and agricultural productivity. This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of Oklahoma’s Small Watershed Flood Control Program, explaining its origins, purpose, and how […]
(Ages 5+) Registration closes on January 27. Discover how animals today face some of the same challenges that led to the dodo’s disappearance. Through hands-on activities, stories, and after-hours exhibit exploration, investigate some causes of extinction and learn simple ways to help protect wildlife. Cost: $30 parent/child pair; $15 for each additional child and $10 […]
(Ages 18+) Night in the Exhibits (N.I.T.E.) is your chance to explore, sip, and socialize. No kids, no stress, just curiosity, good company, and exclusive access to our exhibits after dark. This Adult N.I.T.E., we’re diving into the wild world of natural style. From dazzling pigments to unbelievable camouflage, we’ll explore how nature shows off […]
(Ages 3-5) Registration closes on February 6. Introduce your little learner to science concepts through doing, discovering, and making! Little explorers will discover amazing animals like the dodo bird and learn what it means when animals disappear. Through stories, play, and exploration, they'll begin to understand how we can help protect animals today. Cost: Cost: […]
(Ages 6-11) Registration closes on February 10. Spike’s Club inspires children to love learning through active exploration and play. Each Thursday from 3:30 to 6:00 pm children will explore different natural and cultural history themes. During this installment of Spike’s Club, children will explore some of nature’s coolest (and yuckiest) facts. Why are some animals […]
(All Ages) Join us for a lively celebration as we take a closer look at springtime behavior in nature. From the elaborate dances of birds to the buzzing rituals of bees — and all the quirky, surprising strategies in between — this event invites curious minds of all ages to discover how love and attraction […]
(Ages 6-11) Registration closes on February 12. Join us for a bite-sized adventure for school holidays. Our Explorers Day Camp transforms a simple day off into an unforgettable educational adventure. Whether digging into paleontology, unraveling ancient mysteries, or stepping into the shoes of a scientist, explorers will experience the museum in a whole new way—full […]
(Best Suited for Adult Audiences) Speakers: Dr. Raina Heaton, Associate Curator of Native American Languages, Sam Noble Museum, and Associate Professor, Native American Studies, University of Oklahoma. While discussions of "diversity" and "extinction" often center around the biological and geological sciences, very similar processes are taking place with respect to historic and contemporary languages. Dr. […]
(Ages 18+) The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History will begin the Spring 2026 Docent Training class on Saturday, February 21 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. During the three-month program, participants will obtain in-depth knowledge of the museum exhibits, learn helpful techniques for communicating with visitors, and shadow experienced docents to learn all […]
(Ages 5+) Registration closes on February 18. Explore the connection between dinosaurs and modern birds. Through fun, interactive, hands-on activities, we will discover how some dinosaurs took to the skies! Cost: $30 parent/child pair; $15 for each additional child and $10 for each additional adult in a group. We kindly ask that each adult supervise […]
(Ages 12-17) Registration closes on March 3. Step into our galleries and bring science to life one sketch at a time! In this hands-on scientific illustration workshop, we’ll take our art supplies into the exhibit halls to participate in an art-themed scavenger hunt. No experience? No problem! Our instructors will guide you through simple drawing […]
(Ages 3-5) Registration closes on March 6. Introduce your little learner to science concepts through doing, discovering, and making! Explore the world of flying creatures, from birds to bats to…dinosaurs? Through stories and hands-on fun, little learners will discover how wings help animals soar, glide, and flutter through the skies. Cost: $20 parent/child pair; $10 […]
(All Ages) Get ready for a day of hands-on discovery, creativity, and fun at Full STEAM Ahead! Dive into the exciting worlds of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through interactive booths, crafts, and museum objects.
(Ages 6-7) Registration closes on March 12. A week discovery awaits young explorers ages 6 to 7! Join us from 9 am to 12 pm every morning for museum adventures with activities, crafts, games, and gallery tours as we explore natural and cultural history! Explorers Camp is where learning meets fun, new friends are made, […]
(All Ages) Join us for special daily events at the museum! Learn with “Storytime & Specimens”, make a craft with us, or even “Meet a Scientist” during your visit. All activities are included free with museum admission.
(Ages 8-11) Registration closes on March 12. A week of discovery awaits curious explorers ages 8 to 11! Join us every afternoon during Spring Break for museum adventures with activities, crafts, games, and gallery tours as we explore natural and cultural history! Explorers Camp is where learning meets fun, new friends are made, and young […]
(Best Suited for Adult Audiences) Speakers: University of Oklahoma American Indian Student Association The University of Oklahoma Spring Powwow is one of the longest running student-led powwows in the nation! The powwow is a space and celebration bringing together many Indigenous nations sharing ancestral cultures and traditions through dancing and singing. The University of Oklahoma […]
(Ages 5+) Registration closes on March 25. Teach your little naturalists the joy and wonder of bird watching! We’ll learn about some of Oklahoma’s native birds then head outside to see what birds call the museum grounds home. Binoculars will be provided for use during the program. This program will involve walking outdoors, so please […]
(Ages 12+) Registration closes on April 3. Join us on a guided bird-watching walk at a local Norman Park. Get an up-close look at native bird specimens before embarking on a nature walk to learn about birds and how to identify them by sight and sound. Binoculars will be provided for use during the program. […]
(Ages 6-11) Registration closes on April 7. Spike’s Club inspires children to love learning through active exploration and play. Each Thursday from 3:30 to 6:00 pm children will explore different natural and cultural history themes. During this installment of Spike’s Club, children will explore biological flight in its many different and fascinating forms. This program […]
(All Ages) Celebrate the season of growth, change, and new beginnings at Cycle of Life. This Curiousiday is all about the wonders of springtime and the cycles of renewal in the natural world. Discover how plants bloom, how animals follow the seasons, and how ecosystems come alive during this vibrant season.
(Ages 3-5) Registration closes on April 10. Introduce your little learner to science concepts through doing, discovering, and making! Experience the wonders of nature through guided play and discovery. Come dressed for outdoor exploration around the museum grounds. We’ll discover the plants, animals, and habitats in our own backyard! In the event of unsuitable weather, […]
(Best Suited for Adult Audiences) Speaker: Dr. David Wright, Assistant Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology, Sam Noble Museum and Assistant Professor of Paleobiology, School of Geosciences, University of Oklahoma Is Earth currently experiencing a mass extinction? Biodiversity loss today is occurring at an alarming rate—and many species are threatened by multiple stresses, including habitat destruction, over-exploitation, […]
(Ages 12+) Registration closes on April 29. In Crafting Nature, creativity and science combine! In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to collect and prepare natural ingredients to make their own egg tempura paint. They will then create an original work of art with their new paints. No experience required! Participants 17 and younger […]
(All Ages) Step into a world of discovery and wonder at our Collections Celebration. This Curiousiday invites you to explore the some of the amazing “treasures” that are housed in our diverse museum collections. From ancient artifacts and dazzling fossils to vibrant artworks and fascinating cultural objects, there’s something to captivate every curious mind.
(Ages 3-5) Registration closes on May 8. Introduce your little learner to science concepts through doing, discovering, and making! What do reindeer, Hercules beetles, and triceratops have in common? Amazing headgear! Through playful activities and stories, little explorers will learn how horns and antlers help animals in the wild. Cost: $20 parent/child pair; $10 for […]
(Best Suited for Adult Audiences) Speaker: Dr. Susan Nash, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Dr. Susan Nash will present on how the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History inspired her to write two books. In Residuals: Cotylorhynchus Rises, Nash connects the energies between the mass casualties of Permian extinction and of the Griffin Memorial […]
