The collections at the Virginia Museum of Natural History continue to grow, in keeping with the mission and purposes of the Museum: "to interpret Virginia's natural heritage within a global context in ways that are relevant to all the citizens of the Commonwealth, . . . to preserve elements of natural history, to serve as a permanent repository for specimens, especially those of Virginia origin, and to make the natural history material and its data accessible to researchers and the public."

The collections provide the basis for both in-house research and research that extends nationally and internationally.

VMNH Research and Collections By the Numbers: February 2010

Collection Areas

(For more information about the Museum collections, please contact Registrar Jill Harris at jill.harris@vmnh.virginia.gov)

Archaeology
Approximately 17,000 objects in 500 lots, more than 1,700 cataloged slides

Bryozoans
Approximately 200 species and about 5,000 cataloged specimens

Earth Science
Approximately 5,000 pieces and 70,000 feet of core

Exhibits and Education
More than 3,000 items, 1,500 slides, and more than 300 taxidermy mounts

Amphibians and Reptiles
More than 10,300 cataloged specimens

Recent Invertebrates
More than 1,500,000 specimens

Invertebrate Fossils
More than 10,000,000 specimens

Birds
Approximately 11,000 skins, approximately 9,000 eggs, and about 650 nests

Mammals
More than 20,000 specimens

Frozen Tissues
More than 8,800 samples representing more than 5,500 individuals

Plant Fossils
Approximately 1,200 pieces and 212 blocks with samples

Vertebrate Fossils
More than 5,000 items and 955 unprocessed lots