Allison Henderson
SD Natural History Museum
aka “The NAT”
Allison Henderson
Allison Henderson provided background and a brief overview on “The NAT,” which originally evolved from a conversation in 1874 between two members who loved to collect local flora and fauna. It started in two rooms in what was The Hotel Cecil in downtown San Diego and is now a 150,000-square-foot facility in Balboa Park. During Covid shutdowns, it has operated virtually and continued its many scientific activities and research projects.
Henderson likes to think of “The NAT” as a trifecta made up of a visitors’ center, a museum and a lab. The visitors' center involves special exhibits, including the current Fossil Mysteries and Coast-to-Cactus exhibits. The museum portion features collections—with more than eight million specimens—and a research library. The lab involves scientists working in the lab and out in the region: surveying, making and researching discoveries and trying to understand the effects of fires, climate change, etc. on the environment.
“The NAT” has been closed due to Covid restrictions, but virtual visits are welcome and there is a large inventory of online lectures done by the museum’s scientists. The Nat has speakers such as Henderson available to visit school classrooms and organizations—now done virtually, but usually an in-person visit. Also, adults may check out physical elements of “The NAT” (think dinosaur bones, etc.) for “all you grandparents to share in classrooms, too.” Check out “The NAT” at www.sdnat.org.
The NAT
The NAT in Balboa Park