Animal Crossing's museum is one of the most important buildings in the game – but when you boot up Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you might be surprised by the fact that it's not present from the beginning.

To get the museum, you'll need to undertake a series of steps.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Museum - How To Unlock The Museum

  1. Donate 5 fish and/or bugs to Tom Nook (the ratio doesn't matter so you can give him 2 fish and 3 bugs, for example)
  2. Select a position for the museum on your island - construction takes a day, but to begin with you'll just get Blathers' tent
  3. Donate 15 more fish, bugs and/or fossils to Blathers (again, the ratio doesn't matter)
  4. Wait for the final museum to be built

Once it is complete, you'll be able to donate all of the usual stuff, just like you did in older Animal Crossing games.


This article is part of our Animal Crossing: New Horizons walkthrough, which includes a Complete Fish List, Complete Bug List and Complete Sea Creatures List. If you're looking for specific fish or bugs, we can tell you how to catch the elusive Coelacanth, Mahi-Mahi, Giant Trevally, Stringfish, Golden Trout and all the Sharks and Beetles, along with a full list of critters leaving at the end of the month (unless you visit Kapp'n's Boat Tour islands, of course!).

We can also help with How to Spot Redd's Fake Paintings and Statues, How to Make Bells Fast, How to Breed Flowers, How to Get more DIY Recipes, How to Upgrade Nook's Cranny, where and when to find special characters like Gulliver, Sable, Label, Wisp, Celeste, Pirate Gulliver and Jack, plus tips on using the Star Wand, Tool Ring, Rock Trick, Cutting Down and Moving Trees, using amiibo on Harv's Island, How to Back Up Your Island Data, How to Time Travel, How to Get a 5-Star Island Rating and a whole lot more.

If it's new content you're looking for help with, we can help you find gyroids, unlock Brewster's café, use the new Pro Camera App for selfies, enact new ordinances, get the beloved Froggy Chair, and even learn How to Cook.

And finally, Where to Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch, if for some reason you haven't yet picked up the game, and How To Buy The Happy Home Paradise DLC, too!