Upon arriving at your island, you may be disappointed to find it looking pretty empty. In previous mainline games, the museum, a tailors, and a general store would be on the map from the start. Although disappointing, it makes sense that these amenities wouldn’t be readily available on a deserted island. The good news, however, is that you can unlock them as you progress through the game. And so here’s how to unlock Nook’s Cranny & the museum in New Horizons.

Unlocking Nook’s Cranny

The Nooklings start out by selling a limited amount of items from the resident services tent that they share with their uncle. After a few days, they will ask for your help to build their very own shop. They require the following resources in order to build ‘Nook’s Cranny’, which is named in honour of their uncle:

• 30 wood
• 30 softwood
• 30 hardwood
• 30 iron nuggets

Wood, softwood, and hardwood can all be obtained by chopping at trees with an axe, which can be crafted in the Residents Services tent.

Iron nuggets can be acquired by hitting rocks with a shovel, which again, can be crafted at the Residents Services tent. Hitiing rocks with a shovel can also produce stone, clay, and bells if you find the money rock. This means that it may take a couple of days to gather the 30 iron nuggets necessary. A way to get more iron nuggets is by using Nook Miles to purchase a Nook Miles ticket. These can be redeemed from the terminal inside the Resident Services tent. A Nook Miles ticket allows you to go to the airport and visit a random island. Once there you can gather resources like you would on your own island. Anything obtained whilst there can be brought back with you.

Once you donate the required resources to Timmy in the Resident Services tent, you will be able to pick a spot for the shop. The shop will be built and open for business the next calendar day. It will stock a wider variety of goods, including un-craftable furniture and wallpaper and flooring.

Unlocking The Museum

On your first day on your island, you will be given a DIY crafting lesson from Tom Nook. He will then give you DIY recipes for a flimsy rod and a flimsy net. He says that he would “love to see anything you manage to catch”. If you speak to Tom Nook in the Residents Services tent after catching a critter, you will be able to select the “I found a creature!” option and donate it to him.

To convince Blathers to come to your island, you need to donate five fish or bugs to Tom Nook. Once you have donated five critters, Tom Nook will receive a conveniently well-timed call from Blathers. Blathers is now convinced enough that the island has an interesting variety of fauna, and wishes to visit. You will then be given the task of choosing a spot for his tent. This will be where the museum is eventually located, so make sure to pick the spot carefully.

Blathers will arrive in his tent the next day. Upon talking to him, he will tell you that he needs more exhibit entries in order to open a proper museum. Once you have provided him with 15 exhibits, which include fossils, fish, and bugs, you will be able to construct the museum. The building will take two calendar days until it is constructed.