Beneski Museum of Natural History | Museums | Amherst College
Source: https://www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:42
Beneski Museum of Natural History | Museums | Amherst College
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Welcome to the Beneski Museum
Let us show you around!
From trilobites to dinosaur tracks, there is so much to discover! Museum Docents Mattea Denney, Sadie Gomez and Caroline Needell class of ’22 give a two-minute introduction to the collections of the Beneski Museum of Natural History .
T
he Beneski Museum of Natural History is one of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display, and tens of thousands of specimens available for use by scholars and researchers from across campus and around the world.
Step inside the museum and you’ll find:
Dramatic displays of fossil skeletons, from fish to dinosaurs to Ice Age megafauna
An extraordinary collection of dinosaur footprints
Geological specimens and immersive exhibits that tell the history of the local landscape through geologic time, including when dinosaurs inhabited the area
Mineral specimens from around the world and meteorites from beyond Earth
Hours, Admission & Access
Tuesday - Friday, 10AM - 4PM
Saturday - Sunday, 10AM - 5PM
Admission is always free of charge.
PARKING - The Dickinson Lot (GPS 90 Dickinson Street) Alt. parking Hills Lot (GPS 151-161 MA-9)
MAP HERE
Plan your visit
•
Know Before You Go
•
Schedule a Group Visit
Museum Calendar
The museum is fully accessible; a wheelchair and walker are available for use on site.
How Are Dinosaur Tracks Formed?
The Beneski Museum of Natural History houses the most extensive collection of fossil dinosaur tracks in the world. Specimens on exhibit and in storage show a vast array of track morphologies (shapes).
Meaningful Links
Beneski on Social
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Research Services
T
he Beneski Museum maintains several natural history collections, totaling nearly 200,000 objects, many of which are available for research.
Research Services
Bassett Planetarium
Wilder Observatory
Geology Department
Ives Weather Station Archives
Contact Information
Main Contact
Beneski Building
11 Barrett Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
413-542-2165
avenne@amherst.edu
Hours
Tuesday - Friday 10AM - 4PM
Saturday - Sunday 10AM - 5PM
Mondays - CLOSED
Admission is always free of charge.
Service Animals welcome (Emotional support animals and pets are not permitted)
Social Media
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
Mailing Address
Beneski Museum of Natural History
Amherst College
P.O. Box 5000
11 Barrett Hill Drive
Amherst, MA 01002-5000
Skip to primary navigation
Skip to section menu
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Section Navigation
Welcome to the Beneski Museum
Let us show you around!
From trilobites to dinosaur tracks, there is so much to discover! Museum Docents Mattea Denney, Sadie Gomez and Caroline Needell class of ’22 give a two-minute introduction to the collections of the Beneski Museum of Natural History .
T
he Beneski Museum of Natural History is one of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display, and tens of thousands of specimens available for use by scholars and researchers from across campus and around the world.
Step inside the museum and you’ll find:
Dramatic displays of fossil skeletons, from fish to dinosaurs to Ice Age megafauna
An extraordinary collection of dinosaur footprints
Geological specimens and immersive exhibits that tell the history of the local landscape through geologic time, including when dinosaurs inhabited the area
Mineral specimens from around the world and meteorites from beyond Earth
Hours, Admission & Access
Tuesday - Friday, 10AM - 4PM
Saturday - Sunday, 10AM - 5PM
Admission is always free of charge.
PARKING - The Dickinson Lot (GPS 90 Dickinson Street) Alt. parking Hills Lot (GPS 151-161 MA-9)
MAP HERE
Plan your visit
•
Know Before You Go
•
Schedule a Group Visit
Museum Calendar
The museum is fully accessible; a wheelchair and walker are available for use on site.
How Are Dinosaur Tracks Formed?
The Beneski Museum of Natural History houses the most extensive collection of fossil dinosaur tracks in the world. Specimens on exhibit and in storage show a vast array of track morphologies (shapes).
Meaningful Links
Beneski on Social
YouTube
Research Services
T
he Beneski Museum maintains several natural history collections, totaling nearly 200,000 objects, many of which are available for research.
Research Services
Bassett Planetarium
Wilder Observatory
Geology Department
Ives Weather Station Archives
Contact Information
Main Contact
Beneski Building
11 Barrett Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
413-542-2165
avenne@amherst.edu
Hours
Tuesday - Friday 10AM - 4PM
Saturday - Sunday 10AM - 5PM
Mondays - CLOSED
Admission is always free of charge.
Service Animals welcome (Emotional support animals and pets are not permitted)
Social Media
YouTube
Mailing Address
Beneski Museum of Natural History
Amherst College
P.O. Box 5000
11 Barrett Hill Drive
Amherst, MA 01002-5000