The Big Birthday Block Party

It's exactly what it sounds like. Celebrate our 150th birthday at the Big Block Party!

Enjoy free admission to the Museum all day. Donations are appreciated as part of our Giving Day! 

Our birthday wish is for 150 friends like you to help us raise $50,000 on Giving Day, October 19. You can donate online here, and there will also be opportunities to donate in person at the Block Party.

Join us on the South steps—near the fountain—for a proclamation from Mayor Todd Gloria at 9:30 AM to kick off the Block Party.

Get the deal of a century and enjoy 50% off membership, onsite only.

The littles can play interactive games and activities in our new Nature Trail with some community partners from San Diego Canyonlands, Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, Earth Discovery Institute, and more. 

Get a first look at our new 8,000-square-foot Paleontology Center and the new collections exhibition being built in the basement.

Walk through 150 years of our history in our Library and check out historical photographs, specimens, and more. 

Meet and learn from our scientists.

See our newest film, T. REX, for just $5 per person. 

Snack on food from our new cafe vendor, The Craft Taco, and explore our new retail store partner, Gold Leaf. 

Pop up to our rooftop bar for a cocktail and the best views of Balboa Park.

Visit with our Balboa Park neighbors from the San Diego Railroad Museum, Balboa Art Conservation Center, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Forever Balboa Park, House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, the San Diego History Center, and the Fleet Science Center.

And more from the Anza-Borrego Foundation, Barona Cultural Center & Museum, Botanical Community Development Initiatives, Coronado Public Library, Des Border, Endangered Concepts, Fauna del Noroeste, Friends of Famosa Slough, Friends of Rose Creek, I Love A Clean San Diego, Lakeside's River Park Conservancy, National Marine Mammal Foundation, Queer Science Society, San Diego 350, San Diego Botanic Garden, San Diego Coastkeeper, San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego Tracking Team, Terra Peninsular, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Turgid Succulents, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Related links:
San Diego Natural History Museum: website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook