About the Exhibit

On display Sept. 23, 2017-Jan. 7, 2018, Rare, Beautiful & Fascinating: 100 Years @FloridaMuseum celebrated the Museum’s rich history and featured objects that reveal stories about everything from human health to prehistoric life to invasive species. Each Museum collection was asked to contribute its most interesting items and share the stories that make them special.

Though the physical exhibit is closed, this companion website remains online, providing an opportunity to experience the Florida Museum’s most treasured specimens.

Discover ways science has changed over time, and how the Florida Museum remains committed to addressing future critical world issues, including biodiversity, climate change, invasive species and more.

entrance to the Rare & beautiful exhibit doorway is a cut out ‘100’ and is surrounded by many photos of items on display

The entrance to the Rare, Beautiful & Fascinating: 100 Years @FloridaMuseum exhibit. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

several visitors lean over and touch trays of small bones on display

Scientists from collections throughout the museum were stationed in a working lab so visitors could get an up-close look at their daily research and ask them questions. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

two visitors look at the megalodon jaw on display, the open jaws are taller then both people.

Visitors look at the jaws of an ancient megalodon shark. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

visitor stand next to a tall display panel with information on extinction

Visitors listen to a recording of songs from birds that have now gone extinct. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

many visitors looking at the various items displayed in the 100 years exhibit

A view of the exhibit gallery on opening day. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

visitors appear excited as they look closely at items on display. One visitor holds a booklet with information about the items

Visitors enjoying astonishing marine life specimens that are rarely seen.Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

A visitor kneels next it an item on display while holding a tablet and listening to headphones each item on display includes an audio narration.

The exhibit included a companion audio tour and scavenger hunt app. You can still listen to the recordings on this website. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

100th Anniversary as the State Museum

In 1917, state legislation created the Florida State Museum (now Florida Museum of Natural History). But our roots go back to 1891, when a professor at Florida Agricultural College, Lake City, purchased minerals, fossils and human anatomy models for teaching. The growing collection moved to Gainesville in 1906 when the University of Florida was founded.

With more than 40 million objects, the Museum maintains the largest natural history collections in the South, and ranks among the top five nationwide.

Rare, Beautiful & Fascinating: 100 Years @FloridaMuseum was created by the Florida Museum of Natural History and made possible with financial support from Jon and Beverly Thompson and the 1923 Fund.