Entry No. 23 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: oddities

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Housed in a historic Carnegie library building across from Seabright Beach, this small city museum's taxidermy work is tied to local taxidermist Richard Gurnee, who developed his own freeze-dry preservation process — the museum shows a taxidermied octopus and an unusually preserved sea anemone among its mounts.

The move: Pay the $5 admission, hunt down the freeze-dried octopus and Gurnee's other unlikely taxidermy specimens, then carry the mood across the street to Seabright Beach for a walk.

• 📍 Seabright, Santa Cruz
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 1305 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site

last checked: 2026-07-20