Our Website Is Evolving

You may have noticed that a LOT is going on at the Field Museum these days—welcoming Máximo the Titanosaur, updating SUE the T. rex—and even refreshing our brand. Now, we’re launching a new version of our website to reflect that new visual identity. 

But it’s more than how the site looks; we’re also working to make our website easier and more enjoyable to use, for the people who use it most. Thousands of you responded to our pop-up survey about how you use this website, and some of you gave us much deeper insights into how we could improve. With that to guide us, we created a phased approach for updating and redesigning fieldmuseum.org. This first phase focuses on the things that our visitors need and use most on a daily basis. 

Making the basics better

We had some initial, baseline work to do in order to make our website friendlier to people with all sorts of goals: planning a visit, scoping out new exhibitions, finding out what events are coming up, and much more. Our restructured, simplified menu lets you find the things you’re looking for at a glance. New page designs let you see more of what it’s like to visit different exhibitions and give a better sense of what you’ll find once you get to the museum.

Discover the science that interests you

Scientific discovery sounds really serious, right? While there may be rigorous research involved, there’s also an element of surprise and joy in finding something new. And we wanted to bring more of that feeling to how you peel back the layers of our collections, groundbreaking science news, and just-for-fun moments. 

We’ve added a “Shuffle” feature to our homepage, so you can happen upon great stories at random—fall down the rabbit hole. But we’re also integrating science topics across the site and connecting them to related pieces of content like exhibitions and events. Here for the dinosaurs? The site’s structure will help you beeline it to the dinos when you visit the museum, as well as let you read up on the work our scientists are doing right now (How long is Antarctic Dinosaurs open? Are rainbow-feathered dinosaurs a thing? How do you get a dinosaur named after you?).  

You shouldn’t have to dig too deep to find the science topics you want—let’s leave that work to our paleontologists. 

What’s next

As the site continues to evolve, we’ll be adding features like easy-to-find materials for educators; centralized resources for members and donors; and ways to share our science and collections with researchers around the world. 

In our 125th anniversary year, we’re reflecting on what makes the Field Museum unique, the work we’ve done so far, and where we’re headed. We’re committed to working for Earth’s future through exploration and conservation—and we’re also committed to bringing you along for the ride. This website is one of many places we communicate the museum’s work, and we hope it’ll be a better channel for you to learn about and participate in science with us.

Let's talk

Website updates are an ongoing process. Tell us what you think, and let us know what features or functionalities you'd like to see. 

Follow us on social media @fieldmuseum to stay up-to-date with the latest changes around the museum and see how we’re all #OnItTogether.