Discover a gateway to world-class research and education
The Paleontology Repository is a public research facility developed to support and fulfill the mission of teaching, research and service of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the University of Iowa. This is an international research resource that houses type specimens and makes them accessible to the scientific community as proscribed by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The collection is the property of the State of Iowa, held in trust for the public.
Every discovery tells a story.
At the heart of paleontology lies the quest to uncover the past. It's about piecing together fossilized evidence, analyzing ancient life, and understanding how the world and its creatures evolved over time.
By exploring these remnants, we gain insight into not just what existed, but why those life forms thrived and ultimately changed the course of history.
Paleontology Repository interns after helping to flip Dolly the mastodon's skull, January, 2026
Events
Art & Write Night
Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces.
Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists.
Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session and...
