The museum holds the only complete skeleton of a Quetzalcoatlus, a creature with a 35-foot wingspan.
The collection includes fossil specimens dating back over 500 million years from various Texas geological formations.
The building, originally the Texas Memorial Museum, was constructed with a distinct Art Deco limestone exterior.
Exhibits feature rare specimens of the Texas Blind Salamander, an endangered species found only in the Edwards Aquifer.
The museum serves as a research facility for the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences.
The Texas Science & Natural History Museum, located on the University of Texas at Austin campus, focuses on the natural heritage of Texas. The museum features three floors of exhibits covering paleontology, geology, and biology. Key highlights include the reconstructed skeleton of a Quetzalcoatlus northropi, a massive pterosaur found in Big Bend National Park. Visitors can explore displays on Texas biodiversity, including native habitats and prehistoric ecosystems. The institution functions as part of the university's research and outreach programs. Interactive digital displays accompany traditional fossil specimens to explain the state's geological timeline. Recent renovations have modernized the exhibition spaces while maintaining the building's historic character. The museum acts as a primary repository for specimens collected throughout the Texas region.
In front of the large Quetzalcoatlus fossil display in the main hall.
Check the museum website for temporary closures before visiting as it occasionally hosts university-specific events.
Prioritize the top floor first to work your way down through the chronological evolutionary exhibits.
Use the provided interactive tablets to learn specific details about the geological origins of the fossil specimens.
Do not attempt to park in restricted university 'A' or 'C' permit lots without a pre-purchased visitor permit.
Closed on certain university holidays; check the official calendar for potential closures during campus breaks.
Maintain a quiet volume; do not touch the glass display cases or open fossil mounts.
