This collection spans over 500,000 years of human history and includes millions of artifacts. Key items include cultural treasures from Native American, African, Asian, and Pacific Island societies, as well as significant archaeological findings from around the globe. Artifacts such as totem poles, ceremonial masks, and textiles are displayed alongside multimedia presentations, showcasing the creativity and resilience of different cultures throughout history.

One of the world's largest, the museum’s paleontology collection features over 32 million specimens. It includes iconic dinosaur fossils, like the Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops, along with a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate fossils that document life on Earth from its earliest beginnings through the age of mammals​.

This collection includes millions of specimens, covering birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians from around the world. It serves as a crucial resource for understanding vertebrate biodiversity, evolution, and conservation, with particularly strong representations of North American fauna and tropical species​.

With over 23 million specimens, this collection covers a diverse array of invertebrate species, including insects, mollusks, arachnids, and more. It is a critical resource for studying the vast diversity and ecological importance of invertebrates, especially in marine environments​.

This collection features a stunning array of minerals, gems, meteorites, and rocks. Noteworthy items include Star of India, the largest known blue star sapphire, and the Patricia Emerald, a 632-carat gem. It also features an extensive collection of meteorites.

The Rose Center for Earth and Space includes the Hayden Planetarium, where you can go on a stunning visual journey through space. The exhibits delve into astrophysics, the Big Bang, and the cosmic microwave background. Also, learn about the planets in our solar system, black holes, and dark matter.

The Hall of Biodiversity celebrates the Earth's rich variety of life, focusing on the interconnectedness of all living things. The "Spectrum of Life" exhibit displays over 1,500 specimens, illustrating the planet’s vast range of species, from microorganisms to large mammals.

The Hall of Human Origins traces the evolution of humans, showcasing fossils, artifacts, and interactive displays that illustrate our journey from early hominids to modern humans. Key milestones such as tool development, language, and art are explored, with life-like reconstructions of early hominins and Homo sapiens.