Half a million animals, plants, and fungi
The museum holds specimens from around the world, while also serving as the official state archive of Vermont's flora and fauna.ÌýScholars and students go to our collections to answer key questions about the diversity and origins of life on Earth.
Our vision is to promote understanding of the natural world and investment in sustaining it through research,Ìýcuratorial work, and outreach. By bringing people into contact with natural diversity, the museum seeksÌýto provide a broad audience with the understanding that the viability of human society depends onÌýensuring the future of natural systems.
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How Do You Use Collections in Your Research?
In this series, scientists around the country explain how museum collections are vital to understand how our world is changing.
Pringle Herbarium
Founded by Cyrus Pringle in 1902, itÌýholds 360,000 sheets and is the second largest herbarium in New England.
Thompson Collections
Founded by Zadock Thompson in 1826, the zoological collections hold nearly 150,000 specimens, 90% of which are insects.
Vermont Collections Network
Now live!ÌýOne landing page with access to every natural history collection in the state, totaling at least 800,000 specimens.