Stories

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

Bygone Building Blocks

See how people have been utilizing minerals in all sorts of ways, from antiquity to today.

Creepy, Crawly, Courtship

It’s a spider lover's favorite time of year—tarantula mating season!

How To Build A Bat Box

When Southern California (or other bat-heavy areas) sees waves of extreme heat, the second-largest order of mammals can be put at significant risk. But with a little community assistance, our nocturnal neighbors like this Yuma myotis can sleep safely during hot days in a comfortable bat box — which you can easily build and install yourself.

In Hot Water

As the ocean temperature continues to rise, how are the Pacific’s flora and fauna faring, adapting— or not—and how can people help?

Sun’s Out, Bears Out!

We’re diving into the curious phenomenon of bears in pools with our bear experts and local observers to learn what to do when encountering a vibey bear in your backyard. 

Shade, Then and Now

Discover the changing tree line of L.A. through the lens of La Brea Tar Pits fossils—and the evolving presence of shade in our warming climate

Baccalaureates in Biodiversity

Meet the first graduating class of NHMLAC’s extraordinary mentorship and apprenticeship program—UNLAB (Understanding Nature and L.A. Biodiversity). Discover what eight college grads learned about fish, snails, and other creatures of the natural world from ancient times to the present—and how to protect them in the future. 

Project Phoenix

Get involved in an innovative project that leverages the power of community to understand how wildfire smoke impacts California birds.

Earth's Green Giant

Fossil bones of Gnatalie, the long-necked dinosaur, on display in NHM's new wing, were prepared in the Dinosaur Lab.

Painting L.A.'s First Skyscraper

One colorful scene in the soon-to-be-unveiled masterpiece mural by Artist Barbara Carrasco is this detail, which uplifts the story of L.A.’s first skyscraper—City Hall.