100 Years of Discovery
A celebration of the first 100 years of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Ark (1830s)
Cleveland’s first natural history collections were housed in a small building on Public Square. Built by Leonard Case, its two rooms were crowded with animal specimens, earning it the nickname “the Ark.” The legacy of the Arkites inspired a new group of leaders to found CMNH.
Leonard C. Hanna HouseCleveland Museum of Natural History
Hanna House (1922)
The Museum moved to the Leonard C. Hanna House on Euclid Avenue (then referred to as “Millionaire’s Row”) and opened to the public with its first exhibition, displaying animal heads, hides, shells, stalactites, exotic birds, and butterflies.
Founding (1920)
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History was formally incorporated on December 13, 1920. The Museum was located in an office in the old Lennox Building at Euclid Avenue and East 9th Street. Paul Marshall Rea was appointed as the Museum’s first director.
Fern Lake BogCleveland Museum of Natural History
Natural Areas (1955)
The Natural Areas Program began with the acquisition of our first property, Fern Lake Bog. Today, almost 12,000 acres of land—home to more than 200 listed plant and animal species—are under Museum protection.
The Move to Wade Oval DriveCleveland Museum of Natural History
Move to Wade Oval (1958)
Construction of the new Museum buildings began in June, 1956, and the first exhibit hall was completed in May, 1958. Once complete, the Museum’s move to its current location at 1 Wade Oval Drive was quite a spectacle to behold.
Steggie Steggie by Louis Paul JonasCleveland Museum of Natural History
Steggie (1968)
Steggie has served as the Museum's unofficial greeter for almost 50 years. On June 20, 1968, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Women's Committee hosted an exclusive dinner to welcome the new Stegosaurus to town.
Ralph Perkins II Memorial Woods GardenCleveland Museum of Natural History
Perkins II Wildlife Center (1970)
The Ralph Perkins II Memorial Woods Garden was created in 1970 with generous support from the Cleveland-area Perkins family, who had recently lost a son. Together with the Museum, they developed an immersive space where Clevelanders could encounter Ohio’s wildlife firsthand.
The Nathan and Fannye Shafran PlanetariumCleveland Museum of Natural History
Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium (2002)
The planetarium building’s unique design allows its exterior to function as an astronomical instrument. Nighttime visitors can use the building's chamfered roof to locate Polaris, the North Star, around which all other stars in the sky appear to rotate.
Steggie Returns to Cleveland with New LookCleveland Museum of Natural History
Steggie’s makeover (2016)
On April 1, 2016, the Museum’s iconic Stegosaurus sculpture was temporarily transferred off-site for refurbishment and to receive a new color scheme more in line with current paleontology research on how dinosaurs were likely to look.
Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods GardenCleveland Museum of Natural History
Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden (2016)
The Perkins Wildlife Center underwent its most recent, large-scale transformation in 2016. In this space, visitors can explore soaring walkways that wind through a wild forest, soak in stunning views of wildlife, and enjoy immersive experiences that put them closer to Ohio nature than ever before.
Future Visitor Hall by Gallagher & AssociatesCleveland Museum of Natural History
FUTURE: Visitor Hall
The entryway to the new Museum will be a welcoming “wow” space that offers a preview of the Museum experience to the public. A selection of the Museum’s most iconic specimens—including “Happy” the Jurassic sauropod—will serve as ambassadors that beckon guests into the main galleries.
Future Planetary Processes Wing by Gallagher & AssociatesCleveland Museum of Natural History
FUTURE: Planetary Processes
Adjacent to the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium, this gallery will bring to life the large-scale systems that govern our planet and Universe. Coupled with light- and motion-based displays, specimens will enhance visitors’ understanding of the history of our connection to the planetary ecosystem.
Future Biological Processes Wing by Gallagher & AssociatesCleveland Museum of Natural History
FUTURE: Biological Processes
Connected to the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank, this gallery will highlight the processes that shape life on Earth. Specimens and interactive installations will provide evidence of biodiversity and how life has changed over time.
Future Ames Curiosity Center by Gallagher & AssociatesCleveland Museum of Natural History
FUTURE: Ames Family Curiosity Center
With a focus on Ohio biodiversity, this space will allow visitors to appreciate the importance of collections, participate in hands-on science, and explore the concepts featured in the exhibit galleries. Educators and scientists will share their passion with guests as they present specimens and the latest Museum research.
Future Exterior by Gallagher & AssociatesCleveland Museum of Natural History
Natural History Reimagined (2024)
Through an expansion and complete transformation of our campus and exhibits, we are reimagining our visitor experience. The new Museum will highlight the interconnectedness of all life on Earth—allowing visitors to better understand their place in the natural world and the relevance of science to their daily lives.
“Our campus in University Circle will tell a story that will reach beyond out walls—into our community—and spur conversations that inspire the betterment of the natural world.” —Sonia M. Winner, President & CEO
