Did you know that we have over 390,000 specimens in our collection? They range from preserved animals to photographs and beyond. Our collection also includes some incredible personal belongings from early naturalists. Dawn, our senior director of collections, is highlighting one of her favorite pieces from our collection that the public rarely gets to see. Check it out by clicking here or on the thumbnail above.
Keep exploring natural history collections with the activities below!


What kinds of animals do you imagine when you think of extinct animals? Dinosaurs? Giant sloths? What about non-prehistoric animals? There are many species that were on the brink of extinction within the last 100 years that scientists and conservationists have been working to restore. Click here to check out five species that were once nearly extinct.

Let’s create our own natural history collection! Check out our latest Wonder Workbook to learn how to press your own plants, explore our taxidermy maker activity, and more. Click here to explore all of our Wonder Workbooks.

Speaking of nearly extinct species, the American bison is often cited as one of the greatest conservation success stories. We’ll be celebrating National Bison Day later this week, both in Thursday’s email and in Saturday’s Curious By Nature LIVE workshop! Join educators Nicole and Becca in our Wilderness Walk for an up-close look at one of our bison specimens. We’ll learn about bison and their habitat with a special focus on prairie plants! Click here to register your young scientist.

Lecture Spotlight
We’re thrilled to host writer and environmentalist Audrey Peterman on November 18. As president and co-founder of Earthwise Productions, Inc., she is focused on connecting the American public with the public lands system. Her new book, “From My Jamaican Gully to the World,” shares how the confidence she acquired growing up in Jamaica helped her make a change in the U.S. Click here to register for this virtual program for free.
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Chicago Ornithological Society, and the Chicago Audubon Society are proud to present this event. Thank you to our partners in this event, Friends of the Forest Preserves and the US Forest Service!
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