Yale Peabody Museum Guest Policies

Please join us in ensuring that every visitor feels welcomed and respected.

Our dedicated staff are here to make your visit safe and enjoyable. Abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening language or behavior toward visitors or staff will not be tolerated.

Visitors agree to abide by the guidelines on the museum’s website and by all instructions posted in the museum or provided by staff during the visit.

If a visitor or member of their party fails to follow the museum’s guidelines or instructions, they may be denied entry or required to leave the premises.

These policies are subject to change.

Museum Policies

• Adhere to all signs, staff instruction, and directions.
• Please refrain from touching the objects and specimens. Touchable items are identifiable by museum exhibit labels or signage.
• Please refrain from running, rough play, or disruptive behavior in the museum.
• Please do not sit on any of the exhibits, cases, or ledges.
• Please do not climb on any of the exhibits, cases, furniture, low walls, benches, or ledges.
• Proper attire, including shoes and shirts, must be worn at all times.
• Personal lockers are free to use in the lobby and should be used to store any large or cumbersome items guests do not wish to carry throughout the museum. Please do not leave bags or personal belongings unattended.
• Bags may be subject to inspection at security’s discretion.
• Identification may be requested in certain instances including emergencies, lost child/parent, Yale student hours/events, collecting lost items, etc.
• If you are planning on visiting the museum with a group of 12 or more, please submit your request via our Group Reservation Page to ensure we can accommodate your group. Groups of this size or larger arriving without a reservation may be refused entry based on building capacity.
• Please note that children under the age of 14 must be supervised by an adult. Parents, caregivers, and chaperones are asked to always be with the children and young adults. Registered groups visiting with K–12 students should instead follow the required chaperone ratios found here.
• Cell phones, tablets, and laptops are permitted in the museum. It is expected, however, that use of these electronic devices will be respectful of others. Please use earbuds/headphones when accessing audio content or otherwise mute your device.
• Food is allowed only in the Central Gallery and Rest Areas. No food is allowed in any other spaces in the museum.
• Non-alcoholic beverages in spill-proof containers are allowed throughout the museum.
  • Containers that are not acceptable include open cups or mugs, aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper/plastic cups with straws or no lids.
• Service animals are welcome in the museum. Museum staff will confirm the status of all animals entering the building. The complete policy for service animals on Yale property can be found here.
• Unregistered performances, public pronouncements, flash mobs, and other “pop-up” events inside the museum are prohibited unless arranged with the museum in advance.
• We happily welcome artists to the museum but request that they use only digital or pencil media while they are in the space.
• The sale or distribution of any media created while inside the museum is prohibited without the express consent from the Peabody Media team.
• Entry to the museum implies consent for visitors to be photographed by Yale University and the Peabody, and for visitors’ likenesses to be used in Yale or Peabody promotional materials without compensation or further consent.

Prohibited Items

• Weapons: Yale University specifically prohibits the possession of weapons by any faculty or staff member, student, or visitor while on or in the vicinity of university-owned or controlled property, whether or not the owner is licensed to carry such weapon. This ban includes keeping a weapon or transporting it to another location. With the exception of the University Police, employees are prohibited from carrying a weapon while performing services for the University on or off University premises. Other law enforcement professionals must have the permission of the University Police to carry weapons on campus. Weapons may include, but are not limited to, guns, ammunition, knives, explosives and the like, crossbows, swords, or similar items with the potential to inflict physical harm. Included are disarmed weapons and simulated weapons which could reasonably cause apprehension. Possession of unlicensed or illegal weapons at any location may be grounds for discipline. Appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion in the case of a student, and/or criminal proceedings will be taken against persons who violate this policy.
• Smoking or vaping: Yale University is a tobacco-free and smoke-free campus. Smoking or vaping of any kind is prohibited in all areas of the University campus, and on property leased or owned by Yale. All tobacco products, including chewing tobacco, are also prohibited.
• Alcoholic beverages, unless otherwise approved for a museum-sanctioned event
• Pets or any non-service animals
• Wheeled self-powered vehicles (e.g., roller blades, roller skates, scooters, bikes, skateboards, longboards, etc.)
• Tripods, selfie-sticks, and disruptive flash equipment
• Open flames
• Flowers and plants (insects or microorganisms commonly found on plant material pose a great risk to museum collections)
• Easels, charcoal, oils, India ink, watercolors, gauche, acrylics, and other liquid art media
• Helium-filled balloons