The grand rapids public museum will improve the housing, accessibility, and environmental conditions for 47,500 specimens in its natural history collection by installing new storage units that meet…

The Grand Rapids Public Museum will improve storage conditions for its natural history collection through a $423,752 project grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services' Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301). The museum will install new storage units meeting industry standards to house 47,500 specimens composed of invertebrates, botanicals, rocks/minerals, birds, fossils, mammals and reptiles. Most items are currently stored on open shelving or old wood cabinets susceptible to light, dust, moisture and pests. The project will provide 34% more storage space and ensure long-term preservation by enclosing 95% of the collection in new cabinets. Completed by August 2023, it allows the Grand Rapids Public Museum to better serve the public by strengthening care of its unique natural history collection.

The grand rapids public museum will improve the housing, accessibility, and environmental conditions for 47,500 specimens in its natural history collection by installing new storage units that meet the museum industry's highest standards. The natural history collection is composed of invertebrates with a rigid skeleton, botanical specimens, rocks and minerals, birds (mounts, skins, and eggs), fossils (vertebrate and invertebrate), mammals (mounts, skins, and skeletons), and reptiles (mounts and skeletons). Most of the natural history collection is currently stored on open, steel shelving and in old cabinets with wood drawers. This project will allow 95% of the museum's natural history collection to be stored in fully enclosed cabinets, protecting specimens from light, dust, moisture, and pests. When complete, the project will provide 34% more storage space and ensure the long-term preservation of the unique collection.