North Museum of Nature and Science

Who We Are

North Museum of Nature and Science is a natural history museum located next to the F&M College campus, and minutes from the heart of Lancaster City. We became an independent non-profit organization in 1992, and in 2009, the museum received its fourth re-accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. 

Today, North Museum serves more than 900 members and 35,000 visitors in Lancaster and Central PA each year. The museum collections include more than 250,000 objects in disciplines ranging from Ornithology, Paleontology, Archaeology, Entomology to Zoology. In addition to collections, the museum features a variety of hands-on interactive exhibits, a Live Animal Room, an art gallery, and South Central Pennsylvania’s largest planetarium. The work we do influences and inspires the leaders of the next generation.

ACCESS

We support access for all to participate in our interactive exhibits and STEM Education programs in the museum, schools, community, and at home. 

• Museums For All—Museums for All is a national, branded access program that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. The cost of museum admission can be a barrier for many low-income families. Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,500 museums throughout the United States.  
  North Museum has welcomed 2,313 Museum's for All visitors to date. That's over 10% of our total recorded visitors. Despite severe federal budget reductions, North Museum is committed to serving all visitors equitably and will continue to offer this program. 

MUSEUM PROGRAMS

The museum is a leader in STEM education, developing and presenting programming for all ages, including STEM Career Exploration Fairs, the Science & Engineering Fair, STEM Sisters, North Museum @ Home Virtual STEM Education learning materials, Summer Camps, Outreach programs, drop-off program, and more.

• Nurture@North—there is a growing childcare teacher shortage that is negatively impacting both the economy and families across Pennsylvania. North Museum is resolved that we can do more to help and quickly.  We are an integral part of Lancaster's STEM education ecosystem offering STEM education curriculum and programming in the museum. With this in mind, we answered our community's need with Nurture@North—a pre-k drop-off program. Inspired by Montessori and Waldorf principles, our warm, child-centered classrooms balance the comfort of routine with the thrill of discovery. Children progress through hands-on learning units that develop foundational skills.
• North Museum Science & Engineering Fair—First held in Lancaster County in 1953 with just 39 student participants, the fair has grown significantly. Thousands of local students have participated over our 7+ decades, with more than 350 student competitors annually. Since 2009, the North Museum has been proud to manage this event, enhancing both its academic reach and its impact on students throughout the region.

Your gift will support these programs and more, like, Preschool Picassos, Little Explorer and Me, STEM Storytime, and STEM Sisters. 

PLEASE SUPPORT NORTH MUSEUM THIS GIVING SEASON.