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Messiah University
Messiah University

Oakes Museum

The Oakes Museum of Natural History

The Oakes Museum of Natural History is a unique museum experience for the family, classroom, or group featuring more than 40,000 specimens. The 10,000-square foot museum is home to a collection African and North American mammals, birds, eggs, fish, seashells, minerals, insects, and fossils.

The museum is open on Saturdays from 10-4:00. Staff and volunteers are available to answer questions and guide visitors through the museum. Story time is offered at 10:30 for children during the summer. A craft and scavenger hunts are available all day.

Field trips, tours and other programming is scheduled throughout the week.

You run a top notch program. I have been recommending it to other parents & friends. Your staff people are very professional and well spoken. We will be Curator & Scout patrons for as long as you run the programs. Kudos to you all!

Photo of Curator Club participants looking at insects Curator Clubs Oakes Museum tour guide teaching children about impalas. Field trips Taxidermically preserved giraffe and African elephant. Homeschool Science and Lab Classes Oakes Museum tour guide teaching children about impalas. Scout Programs Taxidermically preserved giraffe and African elephant. Museum Tours
Oakes museum hike in woods

Summer Day Camps

Learn more about Summer Day Camps at the Oakes Museum

More about camps

Interested in Supporting the Oakes Museum?

Sign up for an email reminder to participate in Messiah University's Giving Day. 

Donations received on Giving Day helps the museum to be able to offer scholarships for our educational programs. To help us continue to do this, please consider donating this April on Giving Day!