Stories

Welcome to Stories, a place to explore—and be inspired by—the wonder of our natural and cultural worlds.

Meet Dr. Sophia Jones

Part of the thrill of taking care of history collections is that you’ll never know what wonders an unassuming box may contain.

A cropped, single-frame close-up of an original Lumière film frame depicting workers departing the factory.

Vive la Cinema!

Now on view, a new installation in Becoming Los Angeles spotlights the French innovations at the heart of film history

The Lincoln Heights Whale skull being moved by staff on pallets outside the Museum

The Migration of the Lincoln Heights Whale

As modern whales make their annual journey across the ocean, discover one whale’s 10 million-year journey through time from Flat Top Hill to L.A. Underwater

A snail stretches its body from a green leaf onto a bright pink flower.

Snail Love

Discover the secrets of snail love and show your love for the slimiest Angelenos—it's time for SnailBlitz 2024!

Flat file drawers from NHM's Seaver Center

A Letter from America's Black Heritage

A letter from a 1960s-era NHM exhibition details an 1860s fight against racial injustice

Celebrating Black Communities

Recognizing the heritage and history of the Black community in L.A., past and present.

Cookie in background and two men in foreground

Kindness in Every Bite

Jeffrey & Robbie Jacobs | Uncle Eddie's Vegan Cookies

Rectangular stone with Maya glyph depicting a man holding a cacao plant. Campeche, Mexico. AD 600-900.

A Virtual Chocolate-y Tour of the Collections

Explore the collections of the Natural History Museum through the lens of chocolate!

Year of the Dragon

Celebrate the 2024 Lunar New Year, Year of the Dragon, with highlights from the collection

Blue-grey gnatcatcher on Laurel Sumac from the Irwindale burn area

Nature in L.A.

Ash and Green Shoots

Wildfires can leave scars on our psyches and the landscape. Community Science Program Manager Sam Tayag discusses finding solace in witnessing nature’s recovery.