Museum of Natural and Cultural History — Attraction in Eugene

This is a really thoughtful, engaging, and well-designed museum that works for all ages. We spent about an hour and a half here, but we really needed 2 hours to see all the exhibits (if you're reading in detail, like we were). It's arranged in a loop, starting with Indigenous history of Oregon, moving to geologic history, and discussing modern-day changes in climate and landscape. There's a big exhibit on bull kelp that has all the signs in both Spanish and English, and this one is especially good for kids. There's also an exhibit that is mostly large photographs about the wolves of Yellowstone, telling a visual narrative. The museum shows many artifacts from the last 15,000 years or so made or used by Native Americans. This section was culturally sensitive, historically accurate, and invited visitors to think more deeply about this land and its history. The artifacts also had descriptions and approximate dates of creation, the methods of which were described in fairly simple terms for non-scientists. The rest of the museum also had accessible language in signs, diagrams, and charts demonstrating the processes of plate tectonics, earthquakes, and other geological...

Since there are nothing but too positive reviews I must rate the other extreme to warn you that this is a tedious and generally incoherent museum. Pickings may be slim in Eugene but I expected even if the materials in the exhibits were not first rate the explanations and use of technology on a college campus would help shore it up. Quite the opposite. There is one room that attempts to present the geology and natural history of the state but it does not really tell a clear story, there is no clear chronology or perspective. And this is the best.

The rest is a random jumble of ethnography with very 5th grade social studies type of content. Yes, we know there were Indians and they lived with nature. Great. What was their history? How were the tribes distributed? What about their encounter with the Europeans? Then what? Nothing. No story. No history. And then thrown in are a couple cases of junk found at Chinese camps to include them sort of in the story. No films, no lectures. Vacant. And I was not...

An excellent museum! I've been many times, but today's visit (Aug 30, 2020) was the first since it's very recent reopening, and it was interesting to see the Covid-related policies. First, I'll note that the museum continues to be great! Entry is limited to two groups of visitors at a time, which is too few given its space -- about four or five roughly 500 sq ft. rooms. This could safely be increased, I think. Or, timed entry would help coordinate visits. Still, we didn't have to wait to get in on a Sunday. Masks were of course required, and the museum had an excellent procedure of having little signs next to things that could be touched to indicate that you had touched them, so that the staff could quickly wipe them. The staff nicely explained the Covid-related procedures; signs were clear; hand sanitizer was abundant. A new civil rights / Black experience exhibit was very good (though it could use more photos). As always, the fossils / bones were stunning -- gorgeous and evocative of a...