Founded in 1874, the San Diego Natural History Museum operates from its base in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, with research and conservation activities extending across San Diego County and into Baja California, Mexico. The institution recently marked its 150th anniversary, making it one of the oldest scientific organisations in the region.
The museum's work spans botany, paleontology, ornithology, and broader biodiversity research, supported by extensive scientific collections in these disciplines. Its technical activities include habitat assessment and environmental preservation, applied to conservation efforts across the southern California–Baja California border region.
Public-facing operations include exhibitions drawn from its natural history collections, giant-screen film screenings, and community programmes designed to engage the public with the natural world. The museum's stated mission centres on encouraging an appreciation for nature and leveraging its scientific collections and research capacity for conservation purposes.
