Housing some 22 million specimens, the museum features one of the most extensive paleontological and entomological collections in the world.

Museum education staff also actively engage in outreach by traveling to schools all around western Pennsylvania.

[3] Research teams including former Carnegie scientists made critical discoveries such as Puijila darwini, Castorocauda lutrasimilis, and Hadrocodium wui.

These departments work collaboratively under strategic centers created to re-frame how the museum leverages its research, exhibitions, and public programming to meet the challenges and issues of today.

In late 2013, however, the museum's parent organization and interim administration eliminated multiple scientific positions, seriously reducing its capacity to conduct original research.