The museum is within the Valley Life Sciences Building (VLSB), designed by George W. Kelham and completed in 1930.

[3] Although located on the Berkeley campus, the museum is the primary locality for storing fossils collected statewide.

UCMP was one of the first museums to have its own website in the early 1990s, due to its location within a technology-oriented university with a good Internet connection.

The site has been applauded for its use of visually appealing graphics,[4] was nominated for a Webby Award five times, and received a medal from the Smithsonian Institution.

[citation needed] Annie Montague Alexander was the first benefactor of the museum, and led some early expeditions.