Visiting Yale Peabody Museum with Kids

Visiting Yale Peabody Museum with kids is a day filled with discovery, and Connecticut’s dinosaur fans will love the Peabody. Re-opened in 2024 after a major makeover, this natural history museum is better than ever. And it is free for all visitors! Besides permanent and temporary exhibits, New Haven’s Peabody Museum also has activities and special programs that we love to include on our Connecticut event calendar. You can also round out your trip to New Haven with kids by visiting the Yale Art Museum

For more fun museums, see our Connecticut Museums Guide. And check out our Guide to Free Fun Things To Do with Connecticut Kids for more budget-friendly activities. 

Why Yale Peabody Museum is an Awesome Family Destination

Yale University’s Peabody Museum of Natural History has been a family destination since opening to the public in 1876. The museum now offers three stories of cool exhibits and a little hands-on fun as well. With fossils, crystals, ancient treasures, and even live animals, the museum offers something for all ages. From the massive statue of Torosaurus (forgive us if we call it a triceratops) in front to the giant squid replica inside, this place is full of amazing sights.

And you can’t beat the free admission.

Must See Things at Yale Peabody Museum

New Haven’s top family destination has a number of permanent exhibits that kids will love.

 

There are some big sights in the Peabody’s Hall of Dinosaurs. Photo by Matthew Bellemare via Flickr 2.0

Burke Hall of Dinosaurs

We won’t bury the lead. They could call it Connecticut’s dinosaur museum. The dinosaurs are the draw on a visit to the Peabody, and Brontosaurus is the star of the show. For those who’ve been told that there is no such dino as a Brontosaurus, Yale has begged to differ since 2015. Other fossils include Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and Deinonychus, who looks a lot like one of the raptors from Jurassic World.

The Burke Hall of Dinosaurs is dominated by a huge mural, The Age of Reptiles. Over one hundred feet long, this work of art has watched over the dinosaurs for generations.

The Central Gallery

This space has some awesome reptile fossils, like a giant prehistoric turtle and a rather intimidating mososaur. This gallery also houses many of the temporary exhibits offered throughout the year. It’s also the spot to refresh with a snack while visiting the museum.

A World of Change

Learn about the pivotal events in the evolution of mammals. A fossil of Megacerops (think prehistoric rhino) calls this exhibit home.

History of Science and Technology

This collection has 500 years of technolgy (Medieval STEM?) and artifacts of scientific exploration from across Europe and the Americas.

Connecticut Dioramas

See a few slices of life from Connecticut’s ecosystems. Eleven dioramas showcase the different creatures and plants that call Connecticut home.

Living Lab

The kids will definitely want to spend some time with the live critters in the Living Lab. See creatures like lizards, butterflies, fish, stick insects, and more.

Minerals, Earth & Space

This exhibit shows kids 4 billion years of geology. See some amazing examples of crystals, rocks, meteorites, and other gems.

 

New Haven’s Yale Peabody Museum definitely rocks! Photo by Tosh Chiang via Flickr 2.0

Know Before You Go

There are a few things to remember when visiting New Haven’s Peabody with kids. 

• Allow abot two hours to explore the museum.
• Hands-on exhibits and items are clearly labeled—hands off everything else!
• The museum is accessible and stroller-friendly.
• Kids under 14 must have adult supervision.
• There are free personal lockers in the museum lobby (for large items).
• Reservations are required for groups of 12 or larger.

Eating at the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven

Food is allowed in the Central Gallery and rest areas of the museum. Beverages taken into the galleries must be in spill-proof cups.

If you’re looking to grab a meal with the family nearby, New Haven is home to some of the Best Pizza Places in Connecticut for Families.

The world-famous Louis’ Lunch is only about a five-minute drive from the museum.

More To Do: Yale Art Museum

The Yale University Art Gallery is another Free Museum, perfect for families. Make the most of the visit to New Haven by getting some masterpieces in with a day of dinosaurs!

Visitng Yale Peabody Museum

Did we mention it’s FREE? Since reopening in 2024, Peabody tickets have gone extinct.

Yale’s natural history museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10am to 5pm (closed on Mondays and major holidays).

The museum has limited space in a dedicated parking lot (22V the website has a map) – The front desk will validate your ticket. There are metered spaces nearby and several garages within a fifteen-minute walk as well.