One of the most rewarding early-game achievements in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the establishment of your island's very own museum. This beautiful building, overseen by the ever-enthusiastic Blathers, serves as a repository for all the fascinating creatures and artifacts you'll discover. Unlocking the museum not only provides a central location for your collections but also opens up new avenues for exploration and discovery.
The process of getting the museum built is straightforward and tied directly to your initial interactions with the island's wildlife. Here’s how to get Blathers to set up shop on your island:
- Catch 5 Unique Creatures: Your primary task is to find and catch five different types of creatures. This can be any combination of fish or bugs. Equip your fishing rod or net and start exploring your island's rivers, ponds, ocean, and foliage.
- Donate to Tom Nook: Once you've caught five unique creatures, head over to Resident Services and speak with Tom Nook. Select the option to "I found a creature!" and donate each of your five unique finds to him.
- Blathers Arrives: After donating the fifth unique creature, Tom Nook will be impressed and will make a call to his good friend, Blathers. He'll inform you that Blathers will be arriving on your island the very next day.
- Blathers' Tent: On the following day, Blathers will have set up a small tent on your island. Speak with him inside his tent. He'll explain his passion for natural history and his desire to build a proper museum.
- Donate 15 More Items: To convince Blathers to build the full museum, you'll need to donate 15 more unique items to him. These can be any combination of fish, bugs, or fossils. Keep exploring and collecting!
- Museum Construction: Once you've donated the 15 items, Blathers will announce that he has enough specimens to warrant a full museum. The museum will then be under construction for one full day.
- Grand Opening: The day after construction, your magnificent museum will be open for business! You can now donate all your future finds directly to Blathers inside the museum.
Tip: dig up any fossil spots you see (indicated by a star on the ground) as these also count towards Blathers' collection and are a great way to quickly reach the 15-item requirement.