Our Research and Collections

Since its founding in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History has been a world leader in the natural sciences.

The Museum's research enterprise includes world-class facilities, a global field expedition program, the Richard Gilder Graduate School, and one of the most important scientific collections on the planet, which is an invaluable resource for approximately 200 Museum scientists and for scholars from around the world. 

Scientific Collections

Find out how scientific collections benefit science and society, how they are used and maintained, and why they are deposited at the American Museum of Natural History.

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Tagged specimen jar. R. Mickens/© AMNH

Research

Research Physical Sciences The Division of Physical Sciences focuses on galaxies, stars, and planets, with a particular emphasis on planet Earth. Research Anthropology The Division of Anthropology is concerned with all aspects of human behavior, past, present, and with an eye to the future. Research Invertebrate Zoology The Division of Invertebrate Zoology studies and archives non-vertebrate animals, which make up 95% of all animal species. Research Paleontology The Division of Paleontology seeks to describe the diversity of extinct invertebrates and vertebrates. Research Vertebrate Zoology The Division of Vertebrate Zoology focuses on animals with backbones—fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds.

Collections and Databases

Collection Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection Database View the Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection database. Database Amphibian Species Database View the Amphibian Species of the World database. Collection Anthropology Database View over 250,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects. Collection Herschel Projects Database View the database for the Herschel Project from the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department. Collection Invertebrate Zoology Database View the Invertebrate Zoology type specimens database. Collection Paleontology Database View the Paleontology collections database. Collection Vertebrate Zoology Database View the database for herpetology ichthyology, mammalogy, and ornithology collections. Database World Spider Catalog View the database for spider species.

Science News

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Blog Post Worldwide Collections Database Maps 1 Billion Objects Initiative surveyed natural history museum collections in 73 museums as part of new approach to a global collection. Blog Post Ancient “Marsupial Sabertooth” Likely Saw in 3D New study examines how Thylacosmilus, an extinct mammal with eyes positioned like a cow’s, managed to see in 3D anyway.
Blog Post New Atlas of Insect Respiratory Systems Produced Using CT Scanning Blog Post Museum Researchers Describe New Species of Nocturnal Primate Blog Post Catfish Described by Museum Researchers Highlighted in New Species Report Blog Post Astronomer Jackie Faherty Awarded NSF CAREER Grant

Resources

Scientific Publications

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Research Library

Our research collection is made up of more than 450,000 volumes.

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Collections & Databases

We are a collections-based museum with millions of objects.