Children's Museums
Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology
📍 1175 Base Line Rd, Claremont, CA 91711, United States🕐 Hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11 am–5 pm |
| Thursday | 11 am–5 pm |
| Friday | 11 am–5 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
About Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology
Famed museum with huge fossil collection. Notable paleontology museum offering a vast selection of fossils & specimens, plus history exhibits. The museum's fossil collection was entirely gathered and curated by high school students who also conduct paleontology research on-site. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by 313 visitors.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Natural History Museum
- Location
- The Webb Schools campus, Claremont, California
- Main Exhibits
- Hall of Life, Hall of Footprints
- Hours
- Wed-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm
- Special Access
- Virtual tours and behind-the-exhibits experiences available
💡 Did You Know?
- The museum's fossil collection was entirely gathered and curated by high school students who also conduct paleontology research on-site
- The museum conducts active paleontological research at multiple dig sites including the Hell Creek Formation, Miocene asphalt seeps in Midway, and locations in Barstow
- The museum features a Hall of Footprints with trackways and fossilized footprints from extinct camels and elephants, housed on the lower floor of the circular rock-walled building
- Special events provide behind-the-scenes access to fossil labs and collections rooms where visitors can see latest fossil discoveries and active student research
💬 What Visitors Say
- Plan to spend 1-2 hours at this compact museum—it's perfect for a short visit. The circular two-story building has fossil trackways on the lower floor and fossil displays on the upper floor, making it easy to navigate quickly.
- Arrive early or check ahead for parking availability, as the museum sits on a high school campus with limited parking. During special events, parking fills up quickly and staff may direct you to overflow parking on grassy fields.
- Bring your driver's license for entry. The museum is located on a high school campus with restricted access—you won't be able to explore other campus areas. Stick to the designated museum building and follow staff directions.
- Visit during special events like the Museum Open House & Student Research Symposium (May 9, 2026) or Discovery Day Events to access fossil labs, meet student researchers, and see the latest paleontology discoveries up close.
- For young dinosaur enthusiasts, this museum is highly interactive with touchable displays and hands-on exhibits downstairs. It's perfect for elementary-aged children who love paleontology, though displays have small text so plan to read information aloud to very young children.
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