Research Collections | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

NHM for the birds. Ornithology, the study of birds, was one of the founding disciplines of the Natural History Museum. In fact, four of the Museum’s directors, including the first, were ornithologists.

Keeping our ducks in a row. Over 115,000 specimens, including skins, skeletons, fluid-preserved “pickles” and other preparations, are carefully organized in our systematically arranged collections storage areas. Learn more about the Hall of Birds >

Gone, but not forgotten. Museum scientists study 150 million years of bird evolution, using modern specimens as well as extensive collections of bird fossils (including the spectacular avifauna from Rancho La Brea).

Diverse, dynamic, and delightful. Birds are among our most visible and familiar forms of wildlife — we see and hear many varieties every day. Five hundred of the world’s 10,000 living species of birds have been found around Los Angeles, and our researchers investigate many aspects of their ecology, behavior and population trends.

Spectacular striking snakes: California is home to a variety of snakes, including the renowned rattlesnake. Though often misunderstood, the rattlesnake is a remarkable animal with many intriguing characteristics and abilities. Snakes are fascinating in the wild and every bit as interesting when studied as part of our scientific collections. Our Herpetology collections represent a variety of snakes, and especially catalog the diversity of both contemporary rattlesnakes and those from California’s past.

Leading a double life. Frogs and other amphibians spend their lives on land and in water. The specimens in the Museum’s collections include frog species from North and South America that are now endangered or even extinct. Frogs, in particular, are some of the most threatened animals on our planet due to changes in their environment. Study of these animals can help us understand their past, and protect their future.

Here be dragons! Reptiles have roamed the planet for millions of years — since long before mammals arrived on the scene. Contemporary reptiles such as the Gila Monster, the Komodo Dragon, and the Monitor Lizard may seem fearsome, but their thick scaly dragon-like skins mainly serve a protective function. The claws and teeth are another story...but are still not nearly as intimidating as those of their prehistoric relatives.

Sharks and rays, the first fishes: Cartilaginous fishes such as sharks and rays are among the oldest surviving fish groups. Their history stretches back to the Devonian, when a huge variety of spiny, toothy sharks roamed the world's oceans. Contemporary sharks and rays still exhibit dazzling diversity: some are enormous and graceful; many more are small and inconspicuous. The Ichthyology Department's research and collections contribute a great deal to our understanding of this varied and remarkable group.

Diversity in the dark: In the “midwaters,” where little light penetrates, the abundance of fishes often forms a scattering layer that can be detected by ship's radar. Many of these fishes generate their own light via their skin, which they use to communicate with each other and to lure prey. Our Fish collections include a wide variety of midwater fishes, available for study by researchers at the Museum and around the world.

Swimming in water, walking on land: Fishes, of course, are the well-known inhabitants of many aquatic environments, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountain streams. But do you know that certain fishes can breathe air, walk on land, and even burrow in soil? Backboned animals (vertebrates) first emerged on the planet in watery habitats. Vertebrates have evolved to dominate the land, but all of them started out as fishes.

Here be dragons! Reptiles have roamed the planet for millions of years — since long before mammals arrived on the scene. Contemporary reptiles such as the Gila Monster, the Komodo Dragon, and the Monitor Lizard may seem fearsome, but their thick scaly dragon-like skins mainly serve a protective function. The claws and teeth are another story...but are still not nearly as intimidating as those of their prehistoric relatives.

Vulnerable objects. Did you know that light can fade pigments and dyes; high heat, and fluctuating humidity can cause wood and ivory to crack and plastics to warp or crumble; and oils from our skin may irreversibly etch metals and stain leather? Delicate rare books, preserved insects, brass and silver metal, and even some minerals are vulnerable to deterioration.

Preserving natural history. Nothing lasts forever, but conservators care for and protect the artifacts (man-made objects) and specimens (natural objects) in the Museum’s collections by providing stable environments for storage and display, by repairing broken or damaged objects, and by documenting their condition with photographs and reports.

Tricks of the trade. We fight deterioration in objects by maintaining low light and by shutting out ultraviolet (UV) radiation from storage and exhibition areas. Our climate control system maintains temperatures and humidity levels. Silica gel and certain “pollutant scavenger” materials help control humidity and remove gases harmful to the exhibits. Supportive padding and storage boxes protect the objects. Want to see how we simultaneously store and exhibit artifacts? Visit our Visible Vault exhibit >

Different objects, different needs. Even with dimmed light levels and no UV, a light-sensitive watercolor painting or a butterfly specimen may only be exhibited for a few months. The Museum can display a more durable object such as a silver goblet for a longer time if we maintain lower humidity, and if we use a pollutant scavenger to prevent corrosion.

Sometimes we preserve, sometimes we transform. Conservators preserve objects in various ways. Often, the goal of the treatment is to keep the object looking the same, as when we add an adhesive to stabilize the crumbling surface of a fossil. Sometimes, in treating an object, we dramatically alter its appearance, as when we reassemble a broken pot. Stay tuned for examples of treatments by our conservators!

Humble beginnings. The oldest mammals date from the late Triassic Period (220-225 million years ago), long before the Cenozoic Era or “Age of Mammals” that began a mere 65 million years ago.

Adapted for success. One way we measure the evolutionary success of mammals is by the variety of places they inhabit. Whales gracefully swimming in the oceans, bats flying in the night sky, monkeys swinging through trees, and golden moles burrowing through desert sand — all of these diverse animals are mammals!

Highly helpful hair. Hair, one of the defining features of mammals, has several functions. A mammal’s fur coat insulates and preserves body heat. Hair also forms a layer of protection, preventing scratches and sunburns. Some mammals have a fur coat that changes color with the seasons, providing helpful camouflage. Whiskers are specialized hairs that are extra sensitive to touch. A mammal’s whiskers allow it to orient itself in the dark.

The study of mammals. Mammalogy is the study of the group of warm-blooded and back-boned animals commonly known as mammals. Our collections contain a wide range of mammals. Marine mammals — those that are closely tied to life in the ocean — including whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions, are of particular interest to the Museum, which has one of the best assemblages of marine mammal specimens in the world.

Over 50% of all living creatures. With over 800,000 described species, insects make up more than half of all known living organisms on the planet, making insects the most diverse and prolific group of animals on Earth. Learn more >

What exactly is an “insect”? Many small creatures are incorrectly categorized as insects. Insects, however, have some very specific attributes. An adult insect has three pairs of legs and one pair of antennae. The body of an insect is organized into three distinctive units: the head, thorax, and abdomen.

Flying high. Insects are thought to have been the first animals to evolve flight and are the only known invertebrates that fly. Most insects have not one, but two pairs of wings.

What exactly is an “insect”? Many small creatures are incorrectly categorized as insects. Insects, however, have some very specific attributes. An adult insect has three pairs of legs and one pair of antennae. The body of an insect is organized into three distinctive units: the head, thorax, and abdomen.

Almost 100 years investigating insects. At the Museum, Entomology — the study of insects — can be traced as far back as 1913. Our scientists continue to conduct world-class research on systematics, studying species and their relationships, the evolution of major groups, and fossil insects in amber. Our researchers conduct fieldwork on insect biodiversity at home and in tropical countries.

Discovering discoveries. The context associated with excavated objects is crucial to artifact analysis and interpretation. We preserve all documentation related to the excavation of our Archaeological collections so that the complexities, connections and interrelationships from a dig site can be reconstructed at any time to conduct further research. Learn more >

Invertebrates rule. They live in every imaginable habitat: ocean, freshwater, dry land, the tropics, the desert, the deep sea, and both poles.

Nature’s ultimate variety show. Invertebrates come in a seemingly endless assortment of shapes and sizes and colors. Squid, crabs, clams, jellyfish, earthworms, marine worms, mosquitoes, corals, honeybees, leeches, butterflies, and sponges — are all invertebrates.

Sea invertebrate specialists. Marine invertebrates — those living in or near the sea — are a special strength of the Museum. We care for strong, growing collections, and conduct active research for a variety of bizarre and wonderful marine groups.

Shell study. Our Malacology Department conducts research on seashells and their inhabitants, including snails, clams, squids, and more.

Crustacean fascination. Did you know that there are more than 52,000 species of crustacea — that’s twice the number of all amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals combined! With so many kinds of crustacea to study, the Museum’s Crustacea Department conducts in-depth research related to shrimps, lobsters, crabs, and their many relatives.

Worms and the ecosystem. Although some live on land, the vast majority of segmented worms take up residence in the sea, on beach sands and in the deepest ocean depths. Segmented sea worms are an important link in ocean food chains, and learning about them tells much about the health of marine ecosystems. Our Annelid Worms Department studies these diverse creatures in detail.

Discovering discoveries. The context associated with excavated objects is crucial to artifact analysis and interpretation. We preserve all documentation related to the excavation of our Archaeological collections so that the complexities, connections and interrelationships from a dig site can be reconstructed at any time to conduct further research. Learn more >

Once upon a time. History is more than a collection of dead artifacts or people dressed in old clothes. History involves stories and storytelling. The History Department’s extensive manuscript, map, photograph, poster and ephemeral artifacts provide the adventures, the heroes, the villains, the plots, and the outcomes —sometimes tragic and sometimes triumphant.

Los Angeles at play. Los Angeles has thrived as a place — both in myth and reality — as a sun-soaked playground for free-spirited, outdoor experimentation beyond the workplace. The History Department collects photographs, posters and brochures that tell the story of leisure and recreation, from live alligator farms to full-scale oceanfront amusement parks modeled after New York’s Coney Island, as well as the history of local amateur and professional sports.

Up, up and away. Balloon rides, airplane races, giant blimps, gliders, flying bicycles and other machines of 19th and early 20th century Southern California attracted hordes of tourists and locals to the country’s first public air meet in 1910, who were thrilled and inspired by their newest frontier. The History Department maintains artifacts that trace Southern California’s love affair with flight.

Reel history. Did you know that when movies were invented, there was no sound? Did you know the film reels of early movies emitted a “clicker clacker” sound that competed with the enjoyment of movie-watching? The History Department’s motion picture artifacts document the evolution of technology in movie-making.

Living the L.A. life, 50,000 years ago. The Rancho La Brea Department cares for millions of spe cimens representing more than 600 different species of animals and plants that have been recovered from the La Brea Tar Pits. This collection is particularly rich in carnivorous mammals and birds, and provides an incredibly detailed picture of what life was like in the Los Angeles Basin between 11,000 and 50,000 years ago.

Picturing the past. Photographs help us to remember events in the way that we tend to first experience life, visually, whereas written text in a book or journal invokes our senses through the mind’s eye. And while, images and words can convey similar information, as the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” The History Department’s photograph collection contains over 300,000 images documenting the history of the trans-Mississippi American West and the entire spectrum of photographic technology.

You are what you make? Museum anthropologists approach the study of people and communities through examining the objects people make. The things that people choose to create, and the techniques they employ in the process, are often the result of human interaction with each other and their environment. Learn more >

One world, many peoples. The Museum’s Archaeology and Ethnology collections include nearly 130,000 objects from around the world; geographically plotting both the variety and unity of human behavior through the types of objects they produce. Learn more >

Discovering discoveries. The context associated with excavated objects is crucial to artifact analysis and interpretation. We preserve all documentation related to the excavation of our Archaeological collections so that the complexities, connections and interrelationships from a dig site can be reconstructed at any time to conduct further research. Learn more >

Preserving heritage. The subjects we study are not always in the past. Culture exists wherever and whenever humans interact. We work to understand and preserve the integrated patterns of shared cultural practices, and look for ways that modern networks connect to their related roots in the past.

A fetish for fetishes. Traditional Zuni Fetish carving underwent a fascinating transformation in the 20th century. By studying one particular type of object made in a specific set of locations, we can gain a unique view of the forces that can introduce radical change to a traditional practice in a relatively short period of time. Learn more >

The ancient Americas. The Museum’s diverse collection of artifacts is from the Americas, with an emphasis on cultural objects from the western United States and Latin America. Learn more >

Traces of ancient life. Fossils are remains of animals and plants that have been preserved by natural processes over time. Most fossils capture only the hardest parts of an organism such as its shell or skeleton, although some fossils are formed from animal impressions (footprints) or byproducts (like dung!). The Museum’s collection of fossils is so large that we have four separate departments to administer it.

450 million years of animals with backbones. The Vertebrate Paleontology Department is responsible for one of the largest collections of fossil vertebrates in the country, spanning more than 450 million years of evolution. Among our best specimens are fossil birds, marine vertebrates — from jawless fish to whales, and mammals from American and Mexican cave deposits.

Half a billion years of animals without backbones. Our Department of Invertebrate Paleontology cares for fossil invertebrates. This collection spans more than half a billion years of Earth history, and contains representative specimens of all major invertebrate animals, including sponges, corals, trilobites, ammonites, clams, snails, and brachiopods. Learn more >

Roaming the well-populated Mesozoic. The Dinosaur Institute safeguards and builds through fieldwork, the Museum’s collection of dinosaurs and other four-legged vertebrates that lived during the Mesozoic era when the number and types of species on the planet reached a high point. Our extensive collection reflects this diverse population and includes all major groups of dinosaurs.

Living the L.A. life, 50,000 years ago. The Rancho La Brea Department cares for millions of spe cimens representing more than 600 different species of animals and plants that have been recovered from the La Brea Tar Pits. This collection is particularly rich in carnivorous mammals and birds, and provides an incredibly detailed picture of what life was like in the Los Angeles Basin between 11,000 and 50,000 years ago.

Change, comprehension and conservation. The scientific study of rocks and minerals is crucial to understanding the Earth’s dynamic geologic processes, and illuminates new and better ways to both utilize and conserve our natural resources.

World-class beauty, cutting-edge science. The  Mineral Sciences Department curates a world-class collection that includes minerals, rocks, gems, ores and meteorites, and conducts research focusing on furthering scientific understanding of these materials. The Department actively maintains the Museum's world-renowned Hall of Gems and Minerals and provides public programming through the Museum's Gem & Mineral Council.

The planet’s building blocks. Rocks, and the minerals of which they are composed, are the foundation that supports life on Earth. Besides constituting the solid ground upon which we stand, the minerals in rocks and soils on and near the earth’s surface provide the nutrients that allow biological life to flourish.