Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination

Embark on a daring voyage into the depths of human imagination at the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s new exhibition, Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination. Featuring ancient mariners' maps, literature, works of art, and natural history specimens, this exhibit explores the allure of serpents, krakens, and other monsters of the deep. Peer into the minds of scholars from centuries past, and study sea creatures whose real lives are often more astonishing than the fantastical beings we might have imagined. Dive into the ocean of human consciousness, where dreams and fears entwine with reality, offering profound insights into our world and ourselves. Join us in unraveling the mysteries of the deep sea and the human psyche, where sea monsters—both real and imagined—beckon us to explore the unknown.

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Castaway: The Afterlife of Plastic

In this exhibition, the art collective TRES invites us to share their 2016 journey to document, collect, and photograph debris along the beaches of Australia. Evoking archaeology, marine biology, and cartography, their images summon us to more deeply engage with the natural vistas and objects they have encountered, and to examine and interpret them with fresh perspectives. TRES transports us with photographs of glowing orbs that resemble celestial spheres more than the bottle caps they once were. Making their way as garbage to Australia from as far away as China, these objects have been scarred by Bryozoa, tiny micro-organisms which can be seen in the display case in this exhibition. Now, plastic items such as these lay scattered about the otherwise pristine-appearing landscapes. The rhythmic flow of images challenges us to make sense of the terrain. With hand-drawn maps and charts, TRES attempts to bring order to a perplexing world, where plastic objects resemble organic ones, and “natural” landscapes bear unmistakable traces of human-made pollution.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Fossil Day

In-Person Special Event <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/fossil-day/">Fossil Day</a> Saturday, December 6, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge&nbsp; What treasures are found in the Harvard University paleontology collections? Meet Harvard paleontologists to find out! See their favorite fossils, learn about their research, and ask them your questions. Join us to celebrate National Fossil Day with short talks and table-top presentations for all ages. All ages are welcome; talks recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>.&nbsp; Presented in collaboration with the Stephanie Pierce Lab of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Javier Ortega-Hernández Lab of Invertebrate Paleontology.

Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge 

ArtsThursdays at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Free In-Person Special Event <a href="https://websites.harvard.edu/hmsc/calendar_event/artsthursdays-at-the-peabody-museum-of-archaeology-ethnology/">ArtsThursdays at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology</a> Thursday, December 4, 5:00–9:00 pm   Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge  Join us for a free, fun night at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology! Come with a date, come with friends, or make new friends while strolling through the galleries. All ages are welcome. Explore <a href="https://peabody.harvard.edu/castaway-afterlife-plastic">Castaway: The Afterlife of Plastic</a>, a new, innovative exhibition that documents the art collective TRES’s journey along the beaches of Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania, where they collected and photographed debris that had washed up from places as far away as China. The exhibition is presented in English and Spanish. Free and open to the public. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a> 4:30–9:30 pm. <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/artsthursdays/">ArtsThursdays</a> is a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. Photo © Neal Hamberg

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge 

HMSC December Member Party

In-Person Member Event <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/hmsc-december-member-party/">HMSC December Member Party</a> Thursday, December 11, 6:00-9:00 pm <a href="https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6qZlDYL7a7lHKYK">Advance registration required by December 8</a> Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge Welcome the winter season with HMSC’s most popular member event. <a href="https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6qZlDYL7a7lHKYK">Registration </a>is now open. Not a member?<a href="https://community.alumni.harvard.edu/give/16038662"> Join now so you can join us in December!</a> <ul><li>Sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Mineralogical and Geological collections. Tours are open to all ages and geared toward teen and adult audiences.</li><li>Learn from two other museums how minerals have been studied and used</li><li>Take a closer look at specimens at a hands-on mineral station</li><li>Celebrate two new mini exhibits in the Arthropod gallery</li><li>Enjoy seasonal snacks</li><li>Use your special discount at the newly renovated Shop at HMNH</li></ul>Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. Presented by the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture.

Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge

Science Spotlights: Short of Breath? Here’s a Rock

In-Person Presentation <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/science-spotlights-short-of-breath-heres-a-rock/">Science Spotlights: Short of Breath? Here’s a Rock</a> Saturday, December 13, 2:00-2:30 pm Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Classroom B, Third Floor Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. Federica Calabrese, Postdoctoral Fellow, Girguis Lab When we think of electricity, we often picture wires, circuits and generators. But did you know that living things can also produce electricity? In fact, electricity powers many of the biological processes in living things, including us! Even more surprising is that bacteria can use electricity to “breathe rocks.” What does this mean exactly? Join Harvard scientist Federica Calabrese as she uncovers how some microbes evolved to live in oxygen-free environments and how we can harness “bioelectricity” to power our own electronic devices. 20-minute talk followed by 10-minute Q&amp;A session. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture

Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Classroom B, Third Floor

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Regular museum admission rates apply. Free museum admission for Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Proof of residency required. Free museum admission is not available to commercial groups. *Blackout dates: November 1, November 27, 2025–January 29, 2026 and March 14–22, 2026 Harvard student guides connect visitors with the research, teaching, and Indigenous engagement surrounding the cultural heritage in the museum’s care. How do items come to the museum? Who studies them? How are they cared for? How do they return home? Visitors may drop in at the scheduled times. No reservation is required. Tours meet in the lobby and last approximately 45 minutes. Groups of 10 or more groups may contact reservations to schedule other times, student schedules permitting. Please complete the reservation request form.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

hmsc

Experiences

Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination

Castaway: The Afterlife of Plastic

Fossil Day

ArtsThursdays at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students

Peabody Museum Tours Led by Harvard Students