Denver Museum of Nature and Science

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science will improve the environmental conditions of 700 artifacts from the Pacific islands and Australia by fabricating individual storage mounts and rehousing the artifacts in high-quality closed cabinets. Dating to the early 20th century, the artifacts include plant fiber clothing, tapa cloth, bark paintings, coconut utensils, tusk and shell ornaments, and ceremonial carvings. Conservators will complete a written and photo-documented condition report for each artifact. Staff and volunteers will then construct custom boxes, create cabinet labels, and enter condition reports, artifact analyses, images, and new storage locations into the KE Emu database, and then will physically move the collections. This project will guide future treatment priorities for these artifacts, improve access for monitoring and research, and create new public outreach opportunities through publication, exhibition, and the museum website.