The University of Iowa's Museum of Natural History is one of the highlights of the University of Iowa’s campus. The museum is the second oldest museum west of the Mississippi River and is a point of pride among the residence of Iowa City. It was established in 1858 by the state to house Iowa’s history. The first main exhibit hall is called "Iowa Hall" and it, obviously, houses Iowa’s history. It goes from Pre-Cambrian era to modern day. On the third floor of the museum there are two other exhibits: Mammal Hall and Hageboeck Hall of Birds, which has been recently renovated. Mammal Hall has mammals ranging from an aardvark to a zebra. There is even a hanging skeleton of an Atlantic Right Whale.
The Hall of Birds houses the Laysan Island Cyclorama. It is unique in museum history and it was the first attempt to recreate an entire ecosystem in an exhibit.