Member FAQs

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 Café; and discounts on camps, classes, and workshops. Additionally, Duo+ and Pack+ members receive unlimited access to our 3D movies and planetarium shows. Members at these levels also receive two parking vouchers and four guest passes for the term of the membership purchase or renewal. Premium members receive unlimited access to our 3D movies and planetarium shows, two guest admissions per visit, and two tickets to a private Leadership Circle event. Compare all membership levels.

All members can reserve tickets online and redeem them at the Museum's check-in kiosks at the Museum’s garage and Wade Oval entrances. Members will receive admission tickets for the number of people specified for their membership level. Explore all membership levels.

Members receive one discounted parking validation per visit for adults listed on the membership account. Plus and Premium members receive the number of parking vouchers indicated for their membership level.

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.

Yes. All members receive an acknowledgment email with the tax-deductible amount of their membership purchase.

Your expiration date is listed on your digital membership card. If you are unable to locate your expiration date, please email membership@cmnh.org.

All members whose memberships are nearing expiration will receive a renewal notice in the mail the month before the membership's expiration date.

You may renew your membership up to two months before its expiration. We will simply extend your membership an additional 12 months from the original expiration date.

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.

A membership can be upgraded at any time during the 12 months it is valid. Upgrading does not extend the membership, but it allows you to increase your benefits during the remaining months.

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. Your digital membership card includes the information necessary to verify your Museum membership once you arrive at the visiting institution.

Please note that the Museum does not offer reciprocity with the Great Lakes Science Center, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Holden Forests & Gardens, or the Cleveland Museum of Art, or vice versa.

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 benefits anytime, so review the information below before you visit.

1) Call first.
Always call first to ensure you can use your benefits and to clarify what the specific museum offers.

2) Bring your Cleveland Museum of Natural History membership card.
Museums check IDs and require that a valid membership card be presented upon arrival to verify your membership status. If you have misplaced your membership card, please contact the membership department of the reciprocating museum well before your visit to avoid having to pay for admission.

Guest passes can only be used for general admission when a named household member is present.

• Duo and Pack memberships do not include guest passes.

• 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).

• Premium members may bring as many as two guests per visit.

Caregiver passes are available at any membership level at the time of purchase or during the membership period. Caregivers receive all the same 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.

In accordance with our mission of conservation and sustainability, Museum membership cards are available digitally 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.

There are three ways to update your digital card:

1.) Email the membership office at membership@cmnh.org.

2.) Visit the Museum’s Welcome Desk.

3.) Call the Museum at 216.231.4600.

Once you are a member of the Museum, you will be eligible to join the Museum's affiliated societies. For more information, visit our Clubs & Societies page.

Reciprocity Admission Policy

For Visitors from Participating Institutions

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History welcomes visitors using ASTC, NARM, or ROAM reciprocal benefits. Admission is granted according to the guidelines of each program, and verification is required at the time of entry.

ASTC Passport Program

Visitors from participating ASTC institutions receive free general admission for two adults and all children under 18 living in the same household, or two grandparents and all grandchildren under 18. To receive ASTC benefits, visitors must present a valid membership card from their home institution, along with photo ID and proof of residence. ASTC benefits do not apply if you reside within 90 miles of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History or if your home institution is located within 90 miles of the Museum.

North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association

Visitors from participating NARM institutions receive free general admission for up to four individuals. To qualify, you must present a valid membership card with the NARM logo and a photo ID. Your home institution must be located more than 15 miles from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM)

Visitors from participating ROAM institutions receive free general admission for up to four individuals. To qualify, you must present a valid membership card with the ROAM logo and a photo ID. Your home institution must be located more than 25 miles from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Please note: Reciprocal admission covers general admission only and does not include access to planetarium shows, 3D movies, or special programs unless otherwise specified.