Natural history museums are magical places. They inspire awe and wonder in the natural world and help us understand our place within the animal kingdom. Behind the scenes, many of them are also undertaking world-changing science with their collections. Each year dozens of new species are discovered hiding within their collections, from extinct river dolphins to new dinosaurs to sacred crocodiles.
At the same time, the parts of museums that are open to the public are spaces made for people, by people. We might like to consider them logical places, centered on facts, but they can't tell all the facts—there isn't room. Similarly, they can't show all the animals. And there are reasons behind what goes on display and what gets left in the storeroom.
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