Utah Museum of Natural History records, 1887-2011

Before the opening of the Utah Natural History Museum (UMNH) in 1969, four separate museums existed on the University campus housing natural history related collections. The Anthropology Museum, located in the Park Building, contained collections of artifacts from prehistoric and early Native Americans. The Geology Museum in the Geology Building housed paleontological collections of both vertebrate and invertebrate fossils as well as mineral and ore samples. The Zoology Museum in the Biology Building contained the skeletons, skulls, and skins of most of the animal species found in Utah. The Herbarium, also in the Biology Building, included specimens of flowering plants, mosses, and cryptograms found within the state. These collections were later transferred to the UMNH during the 1970's and 1980's.

In 1963, the State Legislature passed a bill establishing a museum of natual history at the University of Utah. In 1964, the Board of Regents approved the use of the George Thomas Library which was scheduled to be vacated in 1969. UMNH opened in the George Thomas Building in 1969 with four major exhibit halls for Anthropology, Biological Science, Earth Science, and Paleontology. Beginning in 1970, the Museum began an educational outreach program for elementary students, secondary students, University students, and adults throughout the state. In 1972, the UMNH became the first museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums in the state of Utah. UMNH was designated, during the 1990 state legislative session, as the official State Museum of Natural History with the responsibility for the curation of all archaeological and vertebrate paleontological specimens recovered from state land.

By the 1990's, it had become apparent that the George Thomas Building was no longer adequate to hold the ever growing collection at UMNH. In 1997, the Board of Trustees reserved a 15 acre site in Research Park for a new museum. A 487 acre easement, partially adjacent to the museum site, was added in 1999 as a conservation area. Adequate money for the project was successfully solicited through private grants and a Congressional Funding authorization in 2002. Ground was broken for the new Museum in July 2008. The grand opening for the Natural History Museum of Utah was held in the Fall of 2011.