The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Special Collections Building houses roughly 4 million specimens preserved in 60,000 gallons of ethyl or isopropyl alcohol that make up the Museum’s expansive “wet” collections, including those from the Herpetology, Ichthyology, Invertebrate Zoology, Mammals and Ornithology divisions.

Storing specimens used by scientists worldwide, the building serves as a space for researchers to conduct studies that provide critical information for our global community.

Special Collections Building entrance on ribbon cutting day.
Herpetology curator David Blackburn examines a bullfrog specimen in a jar.
Ichthyology collection manager Rob Robins and lab technician Basil Williams begin to unpack the first fish specimens moved into the new building.
Invertebrate Zoology curator Gustav Paulay loads a tray of specimens onto shelves.
Students Zoey Zacharias and Emilio Pedroza-Lopez work with specimens used for grant-funded research projects in Invertebrate Zoology.

The two-story facility was purpose-built and includes systems designed to provide the highest level of safety and fire suppression. It features 23,000 square feet of mobile, compact high-density shelving systems, research and imaging laboratories and office space, providing ample room for the continued expansion of the collections.

Opened in 2022, this $13 million project was designed and built by The Haskell Co. In 2023, it was awarded the highest-level sustainable building Platinum Certification by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC).

THIS BUILDING IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Visitors must make an appointment with a staff member to gain entrance.

Location

Florida Museum of Natural History
Special Collections Building
3207 Hull Road
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611

View on UF Campus Map

GPS coordinates: 29.635414, -82.370620