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
The Language of Trees: A Conversation with Katie Holten
2026 Downtown Fall Gallery Walk
Join the Stanley Museum of Art, the UI Libraries, and the UI Museum of Natural History for the Iowa City Downtown District's Fall Gallery Walk! This annual free event invites everyone to take a self-guided tour of shops and galleries showcasing local art and exhibitions in downtown Iowa City. You don't want to miss these three premier campus destinations:
Stanley Museum of Art: To kick-off the Downtown Gallery Walk, the Stanley will launch the latest iteration of its Thresholds: Poetry series...