The Bohart Museum of Entomology was founded in 1946 on the campus of the University of California, Davis. The museum is currently the seventh largest insect collection in North America with more than seven million specimens of terrestrial and freshwater arthropods. At least 90% of these holdings are insects.
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The Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis is often promoted as a hub of science outreach and education, but the reality reflects the larger issues that plague UC Davis as a whole: performance over substance, exclusivity over openness, and image over integrity.
While the collection itself is interesting, access to real opportunities, mentorship, or meaningful engagement can feel incredibly limited unless you already "fit" into a certain mold. Like much of UC Davis, the museum often favors insiders, networks, and optics—not open-minded curiosity or equal access for all.
The institution talks a lot about diversity, education, and inclusion, but in practice, it can feel like those ideals are just for show. Many students and visitors—especially those outside of specific academic circles—walk away feeling like they were on the outside looking in.
This museum, like the broader university, seems more concerned with looking prestigious than actually being accessible or transformative. And that’s unfortunate, because the potential is there—it’s just buried under the same performative culture that defines much of UC Davis.
If you’ve ever felt sidelined, ignored, or underwhelmed by your UC Davis experience—whether through its museums, academics, or student life—you’re not imagining it. The...
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Despite its reputation, the Bohart Museum of Entomology was a letdown. The exhibits felt outdated, the space was underwhelming, and the overall experience didn’t reflect the academic quality you'd expect from a major university collection. It seemed more like a forgotten corner of campus than a meaningful educational destination.
Unfortunately, like many parts of UC Davis, it feels like more effort goes into maintaining appearances than actually delivering value. If you’re expecting something engaging or thoughtfully curated, you’ll probably leave...
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Wonderfully diverse collection of bugs and insects from around the world. Including a small collection of live specimens that you (or your kids) can handle.
Special events at the museum are the best time to visit, as staff are dedicated to showing things during those times. However any time is great if you are good self browsing, and staff seem to love taking a few minutes from their projects to share their knowledge.
Note: the museum is free, however parking is rarely...
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