The Natural History Museum of Utah is pleased to be open in our new home, the Rio Tinto Center, to serve as the state's new natural history museum building. Located in the foothills above Salt Lake City, the building is an accomplishment of the community and will serve to further the Museum's mission; to illuminate the natural world and humans place within it.

With the opening of the Rio Tinto Center, Utah has the natural history museum that a state rich in natural history and assets deserves. A visit to the Museum allows visitors to explore nature and science in ten themed galleries, and to also step outdoors to experience nature as it's revealed just outside the building. The exhibits and the Trailhead to Utah encourage visitors to explore nature and science at other museums, national and state parks, and destinations around the state. And the Museum is passionate about studying science and engaging visitors in current research with a vision toward the future of life in our dynamic and growing region.

Visitors enter the Level 1 Foyer to purchase admission and register for events. From there, they climb the main staircase, or take an elevator, to emerge in the main lobby area, which we call the Canyon. Three-stories high and featuring a Collections Wall displaying over 500 objects from the Museum's collection, the Canyon is our central public and gathering space

From the Canyon, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the Salt Lake Valley, begin to explore the Museum's Trailhead to Utah system, enter the exhibit galleries, or enjoy the Museum Store and Cafe.

Beyond the public areas of the Rio Tinto Center, the building provides advanced research and collection facilities for Museum scientists who oversee the care and curation of 1.2 million objects in the Museum's collection. The collections and research areas are the core of the institution and feature sophisticated climate control and other means of protecting the collection, and a venue for undergraduate and graduate training at the University of Utah.