Welcome From the Director
Douglas S. Jones
Welcome! I hope you enjoy your visit to Florida's official state natural history museum and one of the largest and fastest-growing natural history museums in the nation.
As you'll see by visiting our web site, the Florida Museum is primarily located on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville and has research sites throughout the state. But the museum is more than just facilities and a repository for millions of specimens and artifacts. We are a community of 100 full-time faculty and staff, about 120 part-time employees, as well as hundreds of students and volunteers, passionately committed to learning and communicating to others the fascination we share for our natural and cultural worlds.
Our researchers investigate bird extinctions on Pacific islands, excavate shell mounds on the Southwest Florida coast, document shark attacks worldwide, monitor endangered and threatened species such as the Florida panther and the manatee and explore the genetic codes relating families of tropical orchids. Their findings are shared through scholarly publications, university courses, public lectures, museum exhibits and K-12 children's programs.
Our geographic emphasis focuses on Florida, the Caribbean Basin and Latin America. However, since its beginning in 1891 the Florida Museum has evolved into a world-class institution with a commitment to understanding, preserving and educating people about our natural and cultural heritage. I invite you to share in this exciting mission by visiting the museum and joining us as a member of our Florida Museum Associates.
Enjoy the rest of your virtual visit!