ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ, kˈɛɹ ɪstˈæblɪʃt ðə wˈɛstɚn nˈætʃɚɹəl hˈɪstɚɹi ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt, ænd ðə hˈaɪ dˈɛzɚt mjuːzˈiəm wʌz ɐn aʊtɡɹˈoʊθ ʌvðɪ ˈɪnstɪtˌuːt ˈoʊpənɪŋ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː.
In 1974, Kerr established the Western Natural History Institute, and the High Desert Museum was an outgrowth of the institute opening in 1982.