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
Read on the Rug
Read on the Rug is back with monthly offerings but we're moving to FRIDAYS!
Join us on the second Friday of each month in Iowa Hall at the UI Museum of Natural History for Read on the Rug. Ideal for families or caregivers with kiddos aged 2-5, all are welcome to this free educational program. This program series was designed with our youngest museum lovers in mind. Come along as we build community and inspire a sense of wonder, curiosity, and respect for our natural and cultural worlds with...