Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History

Morro Bay, CA > Morro Bay Groups & Organizations > Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History

address:State Park Road Morro Bay, CA 93442 phone:805-772-2694 website:Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History email:

The Museum of Natural History - the only one in the California State Park system - opened in 1962. It served over 10,000 visitors in its first two years alone, and now some 65,000 thousand people visit the Museum annually, including 14,000 children who participate free-of-charge in the docent-led school group programs that support California's required science and social studies standards.

Construction on the Museum's three-phase Modernization Project began in 1993 with a remodel of the entry, gift shop, and restrooms. In 1997, Phase II - the rotunda area - was completed. The Phase III Modernization of the main hall became a reality in 2002, featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits especially created for the Morro Bay site. The new exhibits were developed and designed by Exhibit Group Giltspur, a prestigious internationally known design firm that was selected after a nationwide search. Giltspur has also created exhibits for the Smithsonian and the J. Paul Getty Museum.