Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) the curators
and collection managers hear.
What do you have in the Museum?
The Museum has 14 different collections: Archaeology, Arthropod, Botany Herbarium, Economic
Geology, Herpetology, Ichthyology, Invertebrate, Mammalogy, Mycological Herbarium, Ornithology,
Paleontology, Pollen and Plant Microspore, Rocks and Minerals, and Zooarchaeology.
How many fish are there in the fish collection?
The fish collection is one of the largest collections in the Museum, it contains over 325,000
alcohol-preserved specimens.
Why do you keep all these things?
A Museum is a lot like a library but instead of books, we have objects and information about
those objects. We keep all these things so that people can learn more about the world around them.
Can I visit the Museum?
People can visit the Museum collections by appointment only. Please see the information on
"Tours". Our Gallery is
free and open to the public during scheduled hours, found on the Gallery page.
Who works at the Museum?
Many people work at the Museum including: curators, collection managers, educators, researchers,
graduate students, undergraduate students, and volunteers. To contact someone at the Museum
please see our Personnel Directory
How many different sea shells can be found in Georgia?
Over 500 species of molluscs have been collected from the waters off the Georgia coast. There
are also species of molluscs that live in freshwater and on land.
What is the state bird?
Our state bird is the Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum. This bird is reddish brown above with two
white wing bars and white with brown streaks below.
What is the biggest mammal in Georgia?
The biggest land mammal in the state is the black bear, Ursus americanus, which weighs 300 lbs
and can grow to be 5 feet long.