How to Get the Museum in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

How to get the museum in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the most popular topics on players' minds.

Players of previous Animal Crossing titles will know that the museum is an integral part of the game. Catching unique fish, bugs, and digging up rare fossils all in the name of science is one of the core elements that makes up your daily tasks in your town.

Now, imagine their surprise when you don't start off with any type of museum at all. The museum and its curator, Blathers the owl, now need to be unlocked through game play and favors with resident development specialist Tom Nook.

How to Get the Museum in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Earning your island home a brand new museum takes time, effort, and a chain of tasks. Fortunately, these tasks come naturally to most players, so it won't be long before you're strutting down the wings of the building in style.

When you arrive on your island, after doing the basic entry tasks, Nook will mention an old friend of his who has an interest in the natural flora and fauna of your developing town. This typically happens after you craft your first fishing rod. He will request you bring five specimens—fish or bugs, it doesn't matter—to him to determine the nature of the wilderness beyond the Resident Services tent.

Once you do, Nook will make the call to Blathers who will arrive the very next day. Of course, it will fall to you to pick where his tent goes. Choose wisely as this will be the site of your museum when you're through.

When Blathers arrives he will be eager to speak with you. Introduce yourself and let him give you the run down—it's far worth your while as he'll reward you with the shovel recipe immediately afterward. Now it's time to up your game. You'll need a total of ten new specimens—now including fossils—to donate to him.

Finally, once your donations are all present and accounted for, Blathers will excitedly determine that this island is the perfect spot for a museum. Congratulations! He names himself curator and will accept all donations you have once the building opens.

It should take around three days to complete this chain. The museum will have three wings: fossils, fish, and bugs. As usual, Blathers will eagerly tell you fun facts about your donations as you bring them.

A feature new with New Horizons is the ability to donate multiple specimens at once. Additionally, if you're interested in hearing about one specimen in particular or want to hear the fact again, there is a special option to explain a donated specimen on his dialogue menu.