The National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. has a massive collection of reference materials. Insects, whale bones, plants, exotic birds, fossils, anthropological items; countless secret treasures carefully cared for and stored out of sight by the experts, so we can have a better understanding of our planet.

Anthropological collections

A presentation of entomology specimens arranged within one aisle of the Entomology Department compactor collection cabinets.

An assortment of mineral specimens from the Department of Mineral Sciences’ collections are displayed in the storage vault known as the “Blue Room.

The Department of Vertebrate Zoology’s wet collections of fish specimens preserved in alcohol, located at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.

A view of one part of the Paleontology collection.

The Botany Department Herbarium displaying algae specimens, including coraline algae, wet specimens and the usual herbarium sheets.

Collections from the Department of Invertebrate Zoology.
Photos by Chip Clark
(via: designboom.com)
a rather bizarre ark of sorts. there’s a story here. after the final Apocalypse, many years later extraterrestrial beings visit this planet. they unearth the well protected vaults and are amazed by what they find…
That and the left over breast implants in the LA area 😉