About

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.

Collection Areas

(For more information about the Museum collections, please contact Julie Hoskin, VMNH Collections Manager, at julie.hoskin@vmnh.virginia.gov)

Archaeology

• Approximately 700 pieces, 300 uncataloged lots, and more than 1,700 cataloged slides

Bryozoans

• Approximately 200 species and about 3,800 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

Mollusks

• More than 20,000 shells

Invertebrate Fossils

• More than 10,000,000 specimens

Birds

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

Mammals

• More than 29,000 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