Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Natural history museum at University of California, Berkeley, US
The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology occupies room 3101 on the third floor of the Valley Life Sciences Building at UC Berkeley. Its research collections hold more than 640,000 specimens of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and bird eggs, plus over 50,000 tissue samples, with a focus on North America.
The institution was founded in 1908 by Annie Montague Alexander, who created the initial collection. Joseph Grinnell directed the museum for three decades and shaped its scientific approach and growth during his leadership.
The museum is named for its focus on vertebrate zoology, and its collection is reserved for scientific research. It opens to the public only one day a year, on an open house day, when visitors can see the specimens and storage areas.
The collection is closed to the public except for one open day each year; there is no general visiting access at other times. The museum occupies the third floor of the Valley Life Sciences Building, with its entrance at room 3101 on the UC Berkeley campus. Check the museum's own announcements for the date of the annual open day before planning a trip.
Annie Montague Alexander, who founded the museum in 1908, donated 20,564 zoological and fossil specimens she had collected or acquired herself, and gave over $750,000 toward its growth. The collection is reserved for scientific research and opens to the public only one day a year, on an open day.
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