The shelves, drawers, jars and slides in Ohio State University’s Museum of Biological Diversity contain millions of preserved animals, fish, spiders, plants, fungi, insects and slime molds.
The specimens are studied by students and scientists around the world. But the museum is not open to the public — except for once a year.
Today, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum’s curators will share their collections with visitors. It’s the museum’s 10th open house.
“The kids are fantastic,” said Norman Johnson, an OSU entomologist and director of the museum’s Triplehorn insect collection. “To see their eyes light up and go wide when they see a large spider ... is always a joy.”
He estimates that about 7,500 people have attended the museum’s open houses. The last four each drew more than a thousand visitors.
“It’s been largely word of mouth,” Johnson said. “We keep trying different ways to reach people. This year, we are making a bigger effort on Twitter and Facebook.”
Not all of the specimens are, well, dead. Johnson said the OSU insectary will provide live insects, including giant millipedes and Madagascar hissing cockroaches.
Tom Watters, the museum’s mollusk curator, said he has more than 1 million specimens to share.
“It’s the largest collection of freshwater mussels in the world,” Watters said.
Visitors who stop by the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics today can create graphic representations of their voices and compare theirs with those of animals.
“We have a lion roaring, a loon yodeling, a barred owl hooting and a white-crowned sparrow singing,” said Angelika Nelson, curator of bioacoustics as well as the museum’s bird, amphibian and reptile specimens.
“It’s our one time to interact with the public.”
Nelson said curators have been busy getting the museum ready for visitors.
“In the midst of the final preparations, things can be hectic, but at the end of the day everyone has a warm and fuzzy glow,” Johnson said.