The Glass Flowers collection was commissioned by Harvard in 1886 and contains over 4,000 models created by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka.
The Blaschka glassmakers used a specialized lampworking technique that remains a subject of intense modern study and imitation.
The museum's collection includes the original holotype specimens used to scientifically describe various species.
Many of the minerals on display were collected by early 19th-century geologists and remain in their original curated settings.
The Great Mammal Hall displays a complete skeletal mount of a Kronosaurus, a massive marine reptile from the Cretaceous period.
The museum's collections are used actively for teaching university-level courses in evolutionary biology and earth sciences.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History is most famous for its Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants, commonly known as the Glass Flowers. The museum integrates three separate research institutions: the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Harvard University Herbaria, and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum. It serves as the public face of Harvard's extensive natural history research collections. The Great Mammal Hall features a wide array of taxidermy specimens, including a mounted giraffe and a rhinoceros. Visitors can explore significant mineral and gemstone displays, including meteorites and local New England specimens. The museum houses thousands of biological specimens from around the world. It is located on the northern edge of the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The museum frequently updates its special exhibitions to highlight recent scientific research conducted by Harvard faculty.
The central light-filled atrium of the Great Mammal Hall provides a wide-angle view of the mounted skeletons.
Download the digital guide to your smartphone beforehand to access detailed information about the Glass Flowers.
Check the museum's calendar for guided tours which provide deeper context on the research collections.
Allow extra time for the mineral galleries, as they are often overlooked by crowds flocking to the main hall.
Don't rush through the Glass Flowers; the intricate details require a slower pace to fully appreciate.
Open daily, but typically closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 24th, December 25th, and January 1st.
Photography is permitted for personal use without flash; food and drink are strictly prohibited in the galleries.
