Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, post-renovation, offers a highly interactive and modern experience, particularly valuable for families seeking hands-on learning and engaging animal encounters. It features state-of-the-art exhibits, live animals (both indoor and outdoor), and educational staff interactions, making it a dynamic visit for children.
Key Highlights
- ✓Interactive stations in almost every room effectively engage children and adults alike.
- ✓Live animal exhibits, including active and well-cared-for outdoor animals, allow for close observation.
- ✓Staff-led animal encounters are highly educational and praised by parents.
- ✓The museum features a modern, state-of-the-art building with thoughtfully designed and inviting exhibits.
- ✓A dedicated room allows visitors to explore specimens hands-on.
- ✓Impressive dinosaur skeletons are available for viewing.
- ✓The facility is noted for its cleanliness and well-maintained exhibits.
- ✓Staff members are consistently described as awesome, upbeat, and knowledgeable.
Standout Features
- ⭐Ubiquitous hands-on/interactive displays throughout the museum.
- ⭐Engaging live animal exhibits and staff-led animal encounters.
- ⭐Modern architectural design and visually appealing, state-of-the-art exhibits.
- ⭐An entire room dedicated to hands-on specimen exploration.
- ⭐Outdoor area featuring active animal exhibits.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider purchasing a membership if you plan on visiting more than once, as it may offer better value given the high individual entry and ancillary costs.
- →Budget generously; be prepared for the $28 adult / $21 child entry fees, an $18 parking garage fee, and extra charges for planetarium shows/3D movies, plus any food or souvenir purchases.
- →You may not see everything in one visit, which some reviewers found positive as it provides a reason to return.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Many classic exhibits from before the renovations are gone or downsized, leading to a perception that the museum 'feels so much smaller'.
- ⚠Some visitors feel the venue has shifted to be '60% event center, 40% museum' post-renovation.
- ⚠The overall cost is a significant concern; the price is described as 'almost out of reach' and 'just how expensive everything is'.
- ⚠High entry fees ($28 for adults, $21 for kids) are compounded by additional costs for parking ($18 garage), planetarium shows, and 3D movies, easily leading a family of four to spend 'a few hundred dollars' with food and store purchases.
Price & Value
$28 entry fee for adults and $21 for kids. Parking in the garage costs an additional $18. Planetarium shows and 3D movies require extra payment. Factoring in cafeteria food and gift shop items, a family of four can 'easily spend a few hundred dollars'. Some reviewers find the price 'almost out of reach' for what the museum has become, suggesting that the Cleveland Zoo offers 'a lot more to do' for potentially less money. A membership is implied as a way to enhance value for repeat visits.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs mentioned in reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •A cafeteria is available on-site for purchasing food. No information regarding outside food policy is provided.
🚗Parking Info
- •Paid parking garage available for $18.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No specific crowd level information or busy times mentioned in reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •The museum is described as 'super clean'.
- •Outdoor animals are noted as 'very active and well taken care of'.
- •No specific safety protocols like staff monitoring play areas or entry/exit tracking are mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you have strong sentimental attachments to specific pre-renovation exhibits, as many are no longer present or are significantly altered.
- • If you are on a very strict budget, as the total cost for a family can escalate quickly.
- • If you prefer a traditional, expansive museum layout over one that feels more condensed or 'event-center' focused.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
General Admission - Adult
$25 (Advance) / $28 (At the door)Duration: Per visit
Admission for individuals aged 19-60.
General Admission - Youth
$18 (Advance) / $21 (At the door)Duration: Per visit
Admission for individuals aged 2-18.
General Admission - Senior
$18 (Advance) / $21 (At the door)Duration: Per visit
Admission for individuals aged 61 and above.
General Admission - Undergrad
$18 (Advance) / $21 (At the door)Duration: Per visit
Admission for undergraduate students.
General Admission - Military Veteran
$18 (Advance) / $21 (At the door)Duration: Per visit
Admission for military veterans.
General Admission - Under 2
FreeDuration: Per visit
Admission for children under 2 years old.
3D Movie or Planetarium Show Add-on
$7 per personDuration: Per show
Add a 3D movie or planetarium show to general admission.
All-Access Pass
Bundled price (saves $4)Duration: Per visit
Includes general admission, planetarium show, and 3D movie tickets.
Includes:
- •General admission
- •Planetarium show ticket
- •3D movie ticket
Museum Membership
Not specifiedDuration: Annual
Enjoy unlimited visits, exclusive discounts, and special events. Pays for itself in two visits.
Includes:
- •Unlimited general admission
- •Exclusive discounts
- •Special events
DUO Membership
Not specifiedDuration: Annual
Membership level offering specific benefits.
Includes:
- •Unlimited general admission
- •Exclusive discounts
- •Special events
DUO+ Membership
Not specifiedDuration: Annual
Membership level offering specific benefits.
Includes:
- •Unlimited general admission
- •Exclusive discounts
- •Special events
PACK Membership
Not specifiedDuration: Annual
Membership level offering specific benefits.
Includes:
- •Unlimited general admission
- •Exclusive discounts
- •Special events
PACK+ Membership
Not specifiedDuration: Annual
Membership level offering specific benefits.
Includes:
- •Unlimited general admission
- •Exclusive discounts
- •Special events
PREMIUM Membership
Not specifiedDuration: Annual
Membership level offering specific benefits.
Includes:
- •Unlimited general admission
- •Exclusive discounts
- •Special events
Leadership Circle Membership
Not specifiedDuration: Annual
Annual giving leadership society with membership benefits and exclusive event invitations.
Includes:
- •Membership benefits
- •Invitations to exclusive events
- •Complimentary parking
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Community Days (Specific Event Date)
Saturday, October 4 at 10:00am
Free for residents of selected local cities (see discounts for details)
Specific community day event.
Mentor Marsh Guided Nature Hike: Big Trees at the Marsh
Sunday, October 5 at 2:00pm
Not specified
A guided nature hike at Mentor Marsh focusing on big trees.
An Evening with Bonnie Garmus on Storytelling, Science, and Women’s Empowerment
Thursday, October 16 at 7:00pm
Not specified
An evening event featuring bestselling author Bonnie Garmus for conversations with women in STEAM.
Science After Hours | Kamoya Kimeu and the Untold History of Fossil Hunting in Africa
Friday, October 24 at 6:30pm
Not specified
A 'Science After Hours' event focusing on fossil hunting in Africa.
🍎Food Policy
- • Origins Café provides cashless transactions.
- • The Museum Store accepts cash.
📅Booking Policy
- • Tickets can be reserved or purchased online or by calling 216.231.4600.
- • Advance purchase ensures a smooth arrival and discount.
- • Museum is cashless for parking garage, Welcome Desk, and Origins Café (accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover).
- • A reverse ATM is available in the Museum’s coatroom to convert cash into a prepaid Mastercard debit card at no additional cost for cashless transactions.
- • Group bookings (12+ people) require two weeks' notice and one payment in advance. Contact 216.231.4600 x3705 or groupsales@cmnh.org.
🚗Parking Information
- • Location: Museum's parking garage on Wade Oval Drive near the corner of East Boulevard.
- • Entrance: Through attached parking garage entrance on the main level or Wade Oval Entrance.
- • Garage Hours: 8am to 5pm daily (hours may vary during special events).
- • General Parking Rates: $12 for the first two hours, +$1 for each additional half hour, up to a daily maximum of $18. Special-event rates vary.
- • Museum Member Parking: $7 flat-rate during normal Museum hours.
- • Museums for All Parking: $5 flat-rate during normal Museum hours.
- • Leadership Circle Member Parking: Complimentary.
- • Policy: First-come, first-served basis. Intended for Museum visitors only, commuter parking is not permitted.
- • Bus Parking: Groups may disembark on the circular drive in front of the Museum’s Wade Oval Entrance. Bus drivers should inquire with Protection Services for vehicle parking location.
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Pricing can be high (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
S G
a month agoThere’s an interactive station not too far in each room that engages the kids. Every display is very appealing to kids and adults. I love what they did with the place. I went here a lot as a child and it’s barely recognizable at this point. The animals outside are all very active and well taken care of it seems. We enjoyed an animal encounter from a staff member which was very educational for the kids. Overall it was a really good visit! I might need to get a membership 😜
Shane Cooper
3 weeks agoThis place was truly amazing! It features a variety of interactive exhibits that engage visitors in a hands-on learning experience. There are live animals that you can observe up close, allowing for a unique connection to nature. Additionally, the space is filled with a wealth of historical information, all presented in a modern, state-of-the-art building that enhances the overall experience. The design of the exhibits is thoughtful and inviting, making it easy to explore and discover new things at every turn.
Kelly
a month agoThis museum has always been one of my favorite places, but after my last visit I’m hard pressed to come back. Firstly, the renovations are done and it looks great, but it feels so much smaller, and so many classic exhibits are just gone or downsized. I get that the world is changing and places must change too, but this feels like 60% event center, 40% museum now. The animals were awesome like always, it was super clean, and the new exhibits were cool, but the price was almost out of reach for what it’s become. All that said, all of the staff were awesome, upbeat, and knowledgeable!
Yoni Niknam
a month agoWe had high expectations for this museum as they had renovations that took many years to complete. They were met for the most part as it is a beautiful museum with some unexpected attractions like an outdoor area with animal exhibits. The kids enjoyed the hands on exhibits and the dinosaur skeletons. But I can't give 5 stars because of just how expensive everything is. $28 entry fee for adults and $21 for kids. $18 to park in the garage. You have to pay extra for planetarium shows and 3D movies. If you do all that, plus buy food to eat at the cafeteria and spend some money at the museum store, as a family of 4 you can easily spend a few hundred dollars. Don't get me wrong, it's a really cool place and I recommend checking it out once, but you can spend a lot less and have a lot more to do at the Cleveland Zoo.
Chris James
2 months agoI visited the museum with my three year old, and we both loved it! There were a lot of hands-on/interactive displays, in fact there is an entire room dedicated to people being able to explore specimens for themselves! We did not see everything and I would have liked to take more time to read all the descriptions, but that just gives us a reason to go back!