CAC’s Museum of Unnatural Disasters Opens in Washington, DC
For Immediate Release: June 2, 2026
Contact: Gabrielle Levy at Glevy@cacampaign.org and/or (562)673-6974
CAC’s Museum of Unnatural Disasters Opens in Washington, DC
Two-week exhibit brings to life stories from extreme weather survivors and the new shared reality of climate change
Washington–As what scientists predict will be an especially painful extreme weather season begins and federal climate protections face unprecedented rollbacks, a new pop-up exhibit opens today in the heart of the nation’s capital to put a human face on climate change and the terrible impacts on people’s lives, health and wallets.
When wildfires fueled by climate change tore through Los Angeles last year, Lily Green’s family home was destroyed — and the remains were so toxic that she had to wear a hazmat suit when she returned for the first time. Her story and those of dozens of others are the centerpiece of the Museum of Unnatural Disasters, open June 3–14 at the National Mall.
The exhibit, a project of the Climate Action Campaign in partnership with the Center for American Progress, Climate Power, and Extreme Weather Survivors, takes visitors inside the lived experience of survivors of some of the most devastating climate disasters of recent years, including catastrophic flooding in central North Carolina, record-breaking extreme heat across the Southwest, and the LA wildfires of 2025. Through photographs, artifacts, personal testimonies, and interactive displays, the Museum makes viscerally real what headlines and data points don’t always convey: Climate change is not a future threat. It is destroying lives right now.
"The Museum of Unnatural Disasters puts a human face on the devastating toll of extreme weather that is supercharged by the climate crisis. It is especially timely, given this moment when science and truth are under assault and climate deniers are shaping public policy, when too many politicians are climate hushing and too many people are paying the price," said Margie Alt, director of the Climate Action Campaign. "The people whose stories are part of this exhibit help us understand what’s at stake. The damage extreme weather is causing across this country every day is painful and costly and affects so many of us; we need bold climate action now."
“Extreme weather disasters are no longer distant threats. The stories shared through the Museum of Unnatural Disasters make clear what is at stake: We need leaders to act with urgency because lives depend on it,” said Trevor Higgins, Senior Vice President of Energy and Environment at the Center for American Progress. “At a moment when the climate crisis is supercharging heat waves, wildfires, floods, and droughts, the Trump administration is making communities less safe through attacks on climate protections, cuts to disaster preparedness, and policies that make families more vulnerable to the life-changing impacts of fossil-fueled disasters. Americans deserve policies that protect their health, livelihoods, and futures. ”
“Extreme weather isn’t just damaging homes and communities – it’s driving up costs for families already struggling to make ends meet. From higher electricity bills to rising grocery prices and skyrocketing insurance premiums, Americans are paying the price for record heat, historic flooding, and severe drought," said Lori Lodes, President at Climate Power. "As these climate disasters become more frequent, federal cuts to emergency management and disaster response are leaving communities on their own to both prepare and bear the costs of recovery. The Museum of Unnatural Disasters puts all of these costs and the people living with them front and center.”
"Growing up on the Gulf Coast and surviving Hurricane Katrina taught me that what we lose in a disaster can never be fully measured in dollars or damage assessments. We lose homes, traditions, landmarks, memories, and a sense of security," said Bobbie Green, Communications Manager at Extreme Weather Survivors. "The Museum of Unnatural Disasters helps make those losses visible. It invites people to look beyond the headlines and understand the real human toll of climate-fueled disasters while honoring the resilience, care, and determination of survivors who continue rebuilding their lives every day."
The Museum will also serve as a hub for public programming throughout its two-week run. Expert roundtables will address some of the most urgent elements of the climate crisis, including extreme heat, wildfires, public health, and the economic costs of climate change. Many of the survivors featured in the exhibit will participate in these conversations, sharing their experiences directly with policymakers, advocates, and the public.
The Museum of Unnatural Disasters is located on the National Mall at Constitution Gardens East End Plaza, near 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 5pm, through June 14. Information and the latest schedule of events can be found at UnnaturalDisastersMuseum.com.
About the Climate Action Campaign
Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a vibrant coalition driving ambitious, durable, equitable federal action to tackle the climate crisis. By cutting carbon pollution and accelerating the transition to clean energy, we will improve public health and create a more resilient economy and a more sustainable future for all.
About the Museum of Unnatural Disasters
The Museum of Unnatural Disasters is a multi-day, pop-up exhibit that features photographs, artifacts, interactive exhibits, and more that allow visitors to step into the lives of survivors of extreme weather, confront the impact climate change is having right here, right now, and learn how they can use their voices for real, durable change.
