Discover the Beneski Museum of Natural History

Located on the historic campus of Amherst College in Amherst, MA, the Beneski Museum of Natural History offers one of New England’s most interesting collections. Featuring fossils, minerals, dinosaur footprints, and geology exhibits, visiting this museum is one of the best things to do in Amherst. 

Housed within the Beneski Earth Sciences Building, this museum seamlessly blends high‑impact displays with active learning spaces for students and visitors alike.

Museum Origins

The museum’s origins date back to Edward Hitchcock, a geologist and the third president of Amherst College in the mid‑19th century. He assembled the Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet, a large collection of fossil footprints from Connecticut Valley stone slabs. Today, it remains one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaur tracks. His passion and leadership helped to lay the groundwork for what would eventually become the Beneski Museum.

Over the years, contributions from notable figures like paleontologist Frederic Brewster Loomis enriched the collection with rare vertebrate fossils from Patagonia, North America, and beyond. The museum now curates nearly 200,000 objects ranging from fossils and minerals to anthropological artifacts. Around 1,700 specimens are on display across three floors.

What You’ll See: Exhibits & Highlights

First Floor – Ice Age Giants & Horse Evolution

At the entrance, visitors will find towering skeletons of Ice Age mammals. The mastodon, unearthed in 1869 by Charles Shepard, stands near a mammoth discovered in 1923 by Loomis. Alongside these, the evolution of the North American horse is depicted, tracing its lineage through a number of educational displays.

Second Floor – Minerals, Invertebrates & Local Geology

Upstairs, visitors explore vibrantly colored minerals, invertebrate fossils, and an immersive exhibit dedicated to Connecticut Valley geology. The exhibit covers bedrock, glacial history, and sedimentation in the area. Interactive drawers and mounted specimens provide depth and context to earth’s long timeline.

Basement – The Ichnological Cabinet & Dinosaur Skeletons

The lower level houses the Hitchcock Ichnological Cabinet, home to more than 1,700 slabs featuring dinosaur tracks, raindrop impressions, ripple marks, and even feather traces. The cabinet is prized as one of the world’s largest track collections, displaying footprints preserved in the sedimentary layers of ancient mud flats. Nearby, skeletal remains include the most complete Dryosaurus in existence, legs of a massive sauropod Dyslocosaurus, and a jaw from the Tyrannosaur “Alamotyrannus” discovered in 1924.

Why Visit the Museum

• Free Admission & Friendly Learning: The museum offers free entry, making it a welcoming destination for families, schools, and curious minds of all ages.
  
  
• Intimate Scale with Big Impact: Though compact, the museum delivers hands-on, high-quality experiences that often exceed expectations.

• Unique Focus on Trace Fossils: Few institutions offer such an exceptional collection of ichnological specimens. The fossil footprints tell stories about prehistoric behaviors, environments, and evolution.
  
  
• Architectural Integration with Education: The Beneski Earth Sciences Building is designed to merge museum exhibits with geology classrooms and labs. Rock countertops from various geological types and classroom views of the Holyoke Range underscore learning by immersion.
  

Planning Your Visit

• Hours: Generally open Tuesday through Friday, 10 AM–4 PM, and weekends from 10 AM–5 PM (times may vary seasonally).
  
  
• Displays: The building integrates both public exhibits and academic labs, ideal for visitors interested in geology and research.
  
  
• Nearby Resources: Located at 220 South Pleasant Street on Amherst College’s campus. Visitor centers and guided tours are available through the college’s Museum program.
  

Final Thoughts

The Beneski Museum of Natural History is a must-see destination for natural science enthusiasts. It’s big enough to inspire, but small enough to feel personal. Its blend of iconic mammal skeletons, trace fossil wonders, mineral displays, and local geological exhibits offers a comprehensive yet approachable encounter with Earth’s ancient story.

Whether you’re a family looking to explore museums or simply a curious traveler in Amherst, the Beneski Museum delivers depth, discovery, and delight. It’s not just a museum: it’s a living archive of life on Earth.

Stay at The Black Walnut Inn

After a full day of museum exploration, come back and unwind at the Black Walnut Inn. Our accommodations are perfectly appointed to provide relaxation and rest. Come taste our breakfast, included with your stay, then wander our lush grounds and enjoy the shade beneath one of our towering black walnut trees.

Located just minutes from many Amherst attractions, we’re the perfect place for your next getaway. Book your reservation with us today!