We Are Stardust exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
We Are Stardust exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland

A new look for a new year.

The Cleveland Natural History Museum recently emerged from a $150 million dollar transformation. The update took four years to complete and includes two new wings, a refurbished Visitor Hall, and a reimagining of some of the museum’s most iconic exhibits. 

“Natural history is no longer just a lesson of the past but a call to action for the future,” according to a news release from the museum.

Signal Cleveland joined the museum team at the grand opening in December to get a firsthand look at how the museum is making science more relevant to our daily lives —by connecting us to the natural world and inspiring change toward a healthier planet. 

The new Sears “Dynamic Earth” Wing takes visitors on a journey through the history of the planet, while the new “Evolving Life” wing looks at how life is sustained by constantly changing over time. 

The Schafran Planetarium and its surrounding exhibit space were also transformed. 

The Hanna Stardome at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Hanna Stardome at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Credit: Gennifer Harding-Gosnell / Signal Cleveland

“I think that people will find that some of their most beloved objects are still here,” said Sonia Winner, president and CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

“They may be revamped, they may be a little bit better,” she said. “We looked at everything, and we refurbished everything.”

The new-look Cleveland Museum of Natural History is now fully open to the public, with free admission on Sundays to all residents of Cleveland and East Cleveland. 

Visitors who receive SNAP benefits can show their EBT food card and receive $1 admission for up to four guests. 

Listen in as Signal Cleveland gets a sneak peek at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Grand Opening to the public following a 4-year, $150-million transformation that features 2 new wings and a refurbished Visitor Hall.

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Cleveland Natural History Museum

General admission is $25. If you purchase tickets in advance online or by calling 216-231-4600, you’ll get $3 off per ticket. Memberships to the museum start at $99 per year. Specific groups such as seniors and students get discounted rates on tickets and memberships. 

The museum’s attached parking garage has not changed – the entrance is still located on Wade Oval Drive and East Boulevard. The #9 and #10 RTA bus routes bring you within a 10-minute walk of the museum. 

For more information, visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s website here.

Audio Producer (she/her)
I create audio stories meant to engage and inform people in a way that pushes beyond media stereotypes. I aim to build trust between local media and the community, striving to teach people “how” to think about life in Cleveland, not “what” to think.