What has hundreds of thousands of legs, survives best in the dark, and can transport humans hundreds years in the past? Our incomparable collection of nearly 250,000 specimens, including plants, animals, fossils, and minerals. At a glance our collections include: 20,000 reptiles and amphibians; 50,000 insects; 60,000 shells; 30,000 fossils; 12,000 birds; 2,400 eggs and nests; 4,500 mammals; 20,000 rocks and minerals; 200 spiders; and thousands of photographs, papers, letters, and field notes. What this list doesn't reveal is that many of these specimens were collected more than 100 years ago, and some of the species (like the Passenger Pigeon and Ivory-billed Woodpecker) are now extinct. Items in our collections are incorporated into exhibits and educational programming. School groups, Museum members, volunteers, and others may occasionally join us on special collections tours. But, the primary purpose of these rare specimens is to aid scientists in their research.
For scientists studying our environment, the history of the Midwest, and changing ecosystems, discovering our collections is much like hitting all six winning lottery numbers. Our collections provide baseline data for studies of our environment, and they document how humans have changed ecosystems over time. The collections give us a window into the past, help us to understand better what we see today, and aid us in planning for the future.