Guest & Safety Policies

Guest policies are carefully established to provide a balance between the best experience for all visitors while protecting the Museum facility and collections.

  • Food, drinks and gum are not allowed in all gallery spaces or on the Sky Terrace. 
  • Covered containers of water, or baby bottles containing water, milk or formula only, no juice, are allowed in all areas of the Museum.
  • All group visits, including school groups and camp programs, may serve lunch in our Community Room with prior arrangement with a museum representative. 
  • Any organized group gatherings, including birthday parties and large groups over 12 people, are not allowed without coordination with a museum representative.
  • Museum Birthday Party attendees are able to bring party refreshments which can be eaten in the assigned Learning Lab only during the designated hours of the Birthday Party.  Birthday Parties must be reserved in advance on a first-come first-served basis.  More About Museum Birthday Parties
  • The Canyon dining area on Level 2 cannot be used for birthday party or organized group gatherings
  • Balloons, florals, confetti, bubbles, and other similar items are not allowed onsite at the museum.
  • The silver tables in the Canyon on Level 2 may only be used by guests for small meals. Please contact our Group Sales team to arrange a larger group visit.
  • Personal items may not be left unattended in any area of the museum.
  • The University of Utah is a tobacco free campus. As an entity of the University, NHMU is a no smoking facility. Designated smoking areas can be found on the University of Utah webpage about the policy.
  • Purchase of admission implies consent for visitors to be photographed by NHMU and for visitors' likeness to be used in NHMU promotional materials without compensation or further consent. 
  • Roller skates, roller blades, skate boards or shoes with embedded wheels (“Heelies”) are not allowed to be used inside the building. 
  • All galleries and facilities are wheelchair accessible. Motorized wheelchairs are permitted.
  • Photography and videography by our gallery visitors is encouraged. However, all media created by visitors must be for personal, noncommercial use only. Guests may not set up media equipment such as tripods, lighting, etc., impeding other visitors or obstructing walkways. Anyone wishing to create any form of media for commercial use must make advance arrangements with NHMU, execute a written agreement, and pay any applicable location and royalty fees. Click here for more information on our commercial and private photo shoots.
  • Service animals are permitted inside the Museum. Companion animals and pets are not permitted inside and may not be left unattended on our site, including in vehicles.  
  • There is a 1:8 adult to child ratio for groups visiting the Museum. This applies to all organized groups including Kindergarten through 12th grade Self-Guided Field Trips.  
  • Guests are expected to comply with instructions from NHMU staff and security officers. Guests refusing to comply with security directives will have admission refunded and will be escorted out of the building.

Additional Questions? Contact Us.