Q: What is the difference between the membership levels?
A: All memberships include one year of free admission to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, special discounts on parking and in the Museum Store and Origins Cafe, discounts on camps, classes, workshops, and more!
Q: How do I reserve and redeem admission tickets?
A: All members can reserve and redeem tickets online at the Museum's check-in kiosks at the garage and Wade Oval Museum entrances. Members will receive admission tickets for the amount specified on their membership level.
Q: Who is eligible for reduced parking?
A: Members will be given one discounted parking validation per visit for adults listed on the membership account.
Q: Is my membership tax-deductible?
A: Yes. All membership purchases receive an acknowledgment email with the tax-deductible amount of the purchase.
Q: How will I know when my membership expires?
A: Memberships are valid for 12 months from the month you joined and expire on the last day of the month. The expiration date for each plan is indicated on your membership cards.
Q: Will I receive renewal notices?
A: All memberships nearing expiration will receive a renewal notice in the mail beginning the month before your membership's expiration date.
Q: Can I renew early?
A: You may renew your membership up to 2 months before its expiration. We will simply extend your membership for an additional 12 months from the original expiration date.
Q: Can I apply a matching gift to the cost of membership?
A: Your employer may have a matching gift program that will match the cost of your membership with a donation to the Museum. Matching gift donations cannot be applied toward a membership but can support the Museum's Annual Fund.
Q: Can I apply my admission receipt to the cost of membership?
A: Yes! Up to 30 days after your visit, you can apply the full amount of your Museum admission receipt to the cost of an annual membership.
Q: Can I upgrade my membership?
A: Memberships can be upgraded at any time during their 12-month validity. Upgrading does not extend the membership, but it allows you to increase your benefits during the remaining months.
Q: Can I use my museum membership to gain admission to other museums?
A: The Museum participates in the
ASTC Passport Program, which provides free admission to participating museums outside a 90-mile radius of the Museum and your home address. Please note that Museum members do not receive reciprocity at the Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, or vice versa. Your digital membership card includes the information necessary to verify your Museum membership once you arrive at the visiting institution.
Reciprocal benefits can be redeemed with NARM institutions outside a 15-mile radius of the Museum and with ROAM institutions outside a 25-mile radius of the Museum.
Each institution determines the admissions benefits it offers free or at a discounted price. Organizations can modify these anytime, so review the information below before you visit.
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Call first: Always call first to ensure you utilize the benefits and clarify what the specific museum offers.
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Bring your Cleveland Museum of Natural History membership card
Museums check IDs and require a valid membership card to be presented upon arrival to verify your membership status. If you have misplaced your membership card, please get in touch with the membership department before visiting a reciprocating museum to avoid having to pay for admission.
Redeeming Reciprocal Benefits at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Cleveland Museum of Natural History extends free general admission to two adults and up to four youths, as named on your membership at your home museum. Members of other museums must live more than 90 miles away from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to obtain free general admission. You must present your membership card and a valid form of ID. The information on both cards must match to receive free general admission.
Q: How do I use my guest passes?
A: Guest passes can only be used for general admission when a named household member is present.
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Duo and Pack membership tiers do not include guest passes.
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Duo+ and Pack+ memberships include four guest passes per year. These are added to your account when you purchase your membership and expire when that membership cycle expires (they do not carry over).
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Premium members may bring as many as two guests per visit.
Q: What does "caregiver" mean?
A: Caregiver passes are available at any membership level at the time of purchase or during the membership period. Caregivers receive all the member benefits as the primary members of the membership. A caregiver is a babysitter or nanny for the children or grandchildren of a primary member. A caregiver pass is not a guest pass.
Note: Personal Care Assistants
A personal care assistant (PCA) or primary caregiver accompanying a visitor with a disability receives free admission. If a PCA accompanies you, please notify a Visitor Experience Associate upon arrival. The PCA will receive the same admission pass that the visitor purchases. If the visitor is a member, the PCA will receive free admission but does not count as one of the member's guests.
Q: How do I access my digital card?
A: In accordance with our mission of conservation and sustainability, Museum memberships will be available via digital membership cards only. After purchase or renewal, digital cards are sent automatically to the email address we have on file. Should you have any issues accessing your digital membership card, please contact the membership office.
Q: What if my digital card needs to be updated?
A: There are three ways to have your digital card updated:
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Email the membership office at [email protected]
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Visit the Box office
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Or call the Museum at 216-231-4600
Q: What is an affiliated society?
A: Once you are a member of the Museum, you will be eligible to join the Museum's affiliated societies. For more information, see our Clubs & Societies page.