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
Study Hall
Spooky Night @ The Museum
Happy Spooky Szn, Hawkeyes!
The Pentacrest Museums are excited to put on Spooky Night @ The Museum, open for all of our campus and community to enjoy. We'll keep the Old Capitol Museum open after hours for guests to find a treat and roam the galleries. Stumble upon docents with some slightly spooky history to share with you in our galleries like the original University President's Office, the original UI Library, and the original Iowa House Chamber where our Iowa Constitution was first drafted...