While museum visitors are usually warned not to touch the exhibits, one institution in California is encouraging people to take them home. The San Diego Natural History Museum, known locally as “The Nat”, is currently operating a unique service that allows members of the public to borrow actual fossils and taxidermy specimens.
The “Nature to You Loan Program” is reported to be the only one of its kind in the United States offering such access to the general public. For an annual membership fee of $100 (approximately £75), borrowers can take home up to seven items at a time for a fortnight. A one-time borrowing option is also available for $30, allowing for four specimens to be held for one week.
The collection available for loan consists of real natural specimens.
For residents in Bognor Regis, the idea of a local natural history collection may feel familiar, albeit with a different modern reality. The area once hosted the significant HLF Guermonprez collection, which was a major asset for the town before it was transferred from the Bognor Regis Museum to Portsmouth in the 1970s. While that collection remains a vital historical record for the region, the San Diego model represents a different, highly accessible approach to natural history curation.
In contrast to the Californian programme, major UK institutions such as the Horniman Museum or the Booth Museum of Natural History typically restrict the loan of specimens to accredited researchers and educational institutions rather than offering a “take-home” service for living rooms.
The San Diego museum, located at 1788 El Prado, recently transitioned to its school-year operating hours. The school-year hours for the loan library began on 8 September 2026.
The museum’s loan specimens are frequently used by artists, educators, and families. Officials at The Nat have specified that the items are intended for educational and personal enrichment, providing a rare opportunity to study the intricacies of the natural world without the barrier of a glass display case.