Yale Peabody Museum

The A.C. Gilbert Company, based in Westville, changed how children explored science. The Westville based company was founded in 1909 by Alfred Carlton Gilbert, a Yale trained inventor, and went out of business in 1967, shortly after his death. His company produced miniature kits with tools, materials, and manuals – “outfits” that allowed kids to imagine themselves as scientists. When a child is outfitted for science, they are not just learning ideas – they are stepping into a social role. Learn more about it in the Peabody’s newest Central Gallery display “Gilbert’s Closet,” curated by Kartika Puri and Jane Zhang, doctoral students in comparative literature.

Why go all the way into NYC when CT has its very own natural history museum 👀 The Yale Peabody Museum is an absolute gem in our state, we can’t believe we hadn’t been here before! It’s such a fun & FREE spot to explore 🤩 @yalepeabodymuseum @yale #yalepeabody #yalenewhaven #newhavenct #bestofct #thingstodoct

Hundreds of millions of years before dinosaurs, life flourished in the oceans. Upon entering our Ancient Oceans exhibition in the Burke Hall of Dinosaurs, which tells the story of that time, you’ll see large ammonites with fascinating preservation. These creatures are closely related to living octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish. The chambers of the Peabody’s striking examples of ammonites are filled with crystals formed from mineral-rich waters that seeped into the fossil.

What do scholars from Yale’s museums and galleries, our science faculty, students of all subjects,Yale staff from numerous units, and folks from our local communities, all have in common? Answer: Birds. Spring migrant birds, to be precise. And what a glorious spring day it was for our latest West Campus Wildlife Walk! Led by Lynn Jones and Kristof Zyskowski, Yale Peabody Museum, and fellow bird expert Mark Aronson of the Yale Center for British Art, our large troop of enthusiasts made trail along the Oyster River and through the West Campus woods, arriving as always at the Barn to compare notes over refreshments. New connections were made, old friends reacquainted, and 29 species of birds were recorded – check out the full list below. Bonus question: What one species, the most well-known (popular!?) on West Campus, is curiously missing from the list? Let us know in the comments below! Species List (M – recent arrivals): Northern Parula, Wild Turkey, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift (M), Osprey (M), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Barn Swallow (M), Northern House Wren (M), European Starling, Gray Catbird (M), American Robin, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow (M), White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Towhee (M), Baltimore, Oriole (M), Red-winged Blackbird (M), Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Yellow Warbler (M), Northern Cardinal. 📷🙏Eddie Torres @yale @yalepeabodymuseum @mark_aronson @peabodylynn #yalewestcampus #community #birds #wildlife #birding

Join us on Saturday, May 23 at 2 pm for a screening of the documentary "Taíno Legacy." The film is a searing and meditative documentary that confronts the monumental scale of cultural and human destruction unleashed upon the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, beginning with the Taíno of the Caribbean, and seeks to honor and recover the living threads of a nearly extinguished civilization. This 20-minute short film will be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Carlos Torre. Admission is free.

Our ¡Taíno Vive! exhibition explores different aspects of Caribbean indigenous life, including government and society, through objects from the Peabody's collection. A guaíza, the round object in the case, is a stone, wood, or shell object carved into a rounded head or face. It houses the spirit of a living person’s soul, providing strength in battle and gifted in naming ceremonies. It is believed that the stone collars seen here were made for caciques (chiefs.)

Yale Peabody Museum curator and paleontologist Derek Briggs was part of a team of scientists that recently examined a trove of fossils unearthed in Wisconsin and discovered a new species of myriapods that possessed the streamlined, segmented legs similar to those of its modern millipede relatives. The researchers’ findings, revealed that these animals were well adapted for life on land long before they left the water. “In a sense, myriapods had a head start when they arrived on land,” Briggs told the New York Times. The reconstruction was done by Leia Francis @_leia_art_ Read more at LINK IN BIO.

Curious what’s passing through this time of year? 🐦‍⬛ These photos, captured by Yale photographers, show birds across campus and around Connecticut in late winter and early spring. But if you’re wondering what migration looks like right now, join the @yalepeabodymuseum and colleagues for a spring migrant bird walk this Friday at @yalewestcampus . 🔗 Tap the link in our bio for details on the 1.5-mile guided walk through trails and woodlands. Think you can identify the birds pictured here?

Spots are still available for the Peabody's "Blooms and Brunch" event, taking place on Sunday, May 10 from 9:30 to 11:30 am. It's sure to be a charming morning filled with delicious crêpes provided by Crêpes Choupette, sparkling mimosas, and live music in a beautiful museum setting. Bring someone you love to a celebration at the Peabody! Tickets are available at the LINK IN BIO.

George Gaylord Simpson Prize winner Jingjun Liu (left) celebrated with Peabody curator Bhart-Anjan Bhullar (center) and honorable mention recipient Eleanor Goetz (right) at today's award ceremony at the Peabody. The Simpson Prize is an annual award given by the Peabody to published papers on evolution and the fossil record. Liu's research paper explored the evolution of the ozone layer, specifically that that sufficient atmospheric oxygen alone was not enough to establish a reliable ozone layer throughout history. Read more at the LINK IN BIO.

As the warmth of summer approaches and the natural world comes alive in full color, you are invited to an unforgettable evening at the Yale Peabody Museum. Join us on June 20th for the inaugural Peabody Summer Benefit: Golden Hour, a benefit event inspired by the radiant joy and celebration of the longest day of the year. Wander through the museum after hours to a soundtrack of live music that sets the tone for a night of wonder and connection. Savor a thoughtfully curated menu of seasonal hors d’oeuvres, signature cocktails, and elegant desserts inspired by the beauty and abundance of summer. Along the way, learn from museum experts through interactive experiences that bring the stories of our planet to life. This fundraiser supports vital work in support of scientific discovery, education, and public engagement. Reserve your place today at the LINK IN BIO.

Over 100 scholars from a variety of disciplines gathered to celebrate Biodiversity Day 2026 on April 28. They listened to ​short talks by Yale faculty showcasing cutting-edge research and the different dimensions of biodiversity science. ​ “Biodiversity belongs in any serious conversation about planetary solutions, climate resilience, food security, disease dynamics, water quality, forest recovery, fisheries, and the ability of ecosystems to absorb disturbance and rebuild afterwards,” said Peabody curator Thomas Near in his introduction to the day's proceedings. “They are not separate from biodiversity. They are intertwined with it.” Read more at the LINK IN BIO.