Imagine learning about volcanoes by closely examining samples of pumice and basalt, or making firsthand observations about camouflage by comparing the color patterns of bird eggs. The museum’s loan program helps educators create enduring learning experiences by providing thousands of items including minerals, fossils, wildlife mounts, and thematic kits on subjects ranging from ancient Egypt to tropical forests. In an effort to help young learners build literacy skills, many loan boxes contain multiple copies of relevant children’s literature.

Scheduling
Contact Patrick McShea at 412.622.3292 or McSheaP@carnegiemnh.org to obtain a building registration form or to arrange a loan.

Fee
One-time Loans
The fee for a two-week loan is $50. There is no limit on the number of items that may be requested; a typical loan includes approx. eight kits, boxes, or cases in any combination.

Annual Registration
For facilities with enrollment of 400 and under, the annual registration fee is $150. For facilities with enrollment over 400, the annual registration fee is $200. Annual fees grant unlimited borrowing privileges to all faculty for 12 months from the date of registration.

Borrowing Procedures
Materials are picked up from and returned to a loading dock near the Portal Entrance accessed from the museum parking lot. Hours for pickup and return are 7 a.m.–7 p.m. daily. Detailed directions will be emailed upon request.

Several school districts use district vans and drivers for the transport of museum loan materials. Many educators also arrange for parent volunteers to assist with the task of pickup and return.

Available Materials
Click here to download the full loan program catalog with complete descriptions and sizes of each kit's contents (Adobe PDF, 400 Kb).

Thematic Loan Kits
Kits generally contain specimens, artifacts or replicas, and related audio-visual and printed materials.

• Archaeology: Tools and Technology
• Desert Wildlife
• Dinosaurs: Mesozoic Marvels
• Gifts from the Sea: Native Northwest Coast Fishing
• The Hopi
• The Inuit: Past and Present
• Inuit Games
• Life in Ancient Egypt: Scribes and Farmers
• The Monongahela: Prehistoric Pennsylvanians
• Pawprints (mammal tracks)
• Pennsylvania Botany
• Pennsylvania's Endangered Species
• People of the Plains
• Rock and Mineral Identification
• Tropical Forest Wildlife

Topical Boxes
Topical Boxes are groups of specimens or artifacts packaged as a single unit.

• African Artifacts
• Bats
• Bird Beaks and Feet
• Bird Eggs
• Bird Flight
• Bird Nests
• Bird Skulls
• Bird Song
• Bird Study Skins
• Coral
• Freshwater Mussels
• Fossils
• Horns and Antlers
• Mammal Bones
• Mammal Pelts
• Mammal Study Skins
• Mammal Skulls
• Ocean Life
• Owls
• Pittsburgh Rocks
• Poisonous Plants
• Rocks and Minerals
• Sea Shells
• Sea Turtles
• Sharks
• Taxidermy
• Textures in Nature
• Volcanic Rocks
• Whales

• Amphibians
• Birds
• Fish
• Insects
• Mammals
• Mollusks and other Invertebrates
• Reptiles