University of Oregon Museum of Natural History - Eugene, OR - American natural history museum

The University Of Oregon Museum Of National History, often simply referred to as the UO Natural History Museum, is a popular museum located in Eugene, Oregon. As the name suggests, the museum is run by the University of Oregon and gives visitors the chance to learn all about the natural history and culture of America through the ages.

The UO Natural History Museum was founded in 1936 by famed archaeologist Luther Cressman and is home to numerous collections of historic artifacts, including what's thought to be Oregon's oldest pair of running shoes - sagebrush-bark sandals that are dated as being 9,000 years old. Many of the items in the collections were discovered by Cressman himself and another archaeologist and paleontologist Thomas Condon, with many of the items being unique and native to the area.

Some of the items on display date back some 15,000 years, with a lot of them being hand-made cultural artifacts. Although a lot of the items come from America there are also artifacts that span the globe, coming from places as far afield as the Philippines, New Guinea and Africa. There are over half a million artifacts in total, and all of them offer an insight into the history of American culture and beyond.

The museum also hosts a number of public programs to give an even more in-depth look at history, including several hands-on exhibits and school tours being available. Special group tours can always be arranged and are usually tailored according to the age, interests and needs of those attending making it particularly relevant to whatever's being studied at the time. Additional teacher resources mean that the learning can continue in the classroom and offers a great way to keep kids interested.

The museum is open throughout the year with opening hours being 11am to 5pm Wednesday through to Sunday every week. Holiday hours can vary so be sure to check in advance, and the museum gift shop , which offers a great selection of souvenirs as well as educational items, also operates under the same hours.

Admission prices to the museum are as follows: general admission is $3, seniors and children aged 2-18 are $2. Children under 2 years old get in for free, as do museum members, and family tickets for 2 adults and up to 4 children cost just $8. And, every Wednesday the museum is completely free of charge to everyone who wishes to visit.

Group tours can always be arranged but they have to be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. Tour programs last between 60 and 90 minutes long and they can be booked anytime between 9am and 4:30pm Tuesday to Friday. Tour admission costs $1.50 per person.

The University Of Oregon Museum Of Natural History is a great place to go for all ages who want to learn about the history of American culture and beyond. It has a great range of exhibits to offer something for everyone, and all visitors are sure to leave having learnt something new.