All Things Beautiful

Distributed on behalf of the Florida Museum of Natural History

Florida Book Awards, Gold Medal for Visual Arts

Indigo Design Awards, Gold Winner in Book Design for Graphic Design

Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Circle of Excellence Gold Award in Design and Publications

University Photographers’ Association of America, First Prize Award in Print and Publications

DNA Paris, Honorable Mention in Graphic Design/Key Art

Graphic Design USA, In-House Award Winner

Southeastern Museums Conference, Gold and Best in Show Awards

Creative Communication Award, C2A Winner

Lushly illustrated with over 300 color plates, this volume is a celebration of the beauty of natural history collections and the work of curators dedicated to understanding and conserving our natural world.

Natural history museums are libraries of life. All Things Beautiful reveals some of the remarkable animals, plants, fossils, and cultural heritage materials that make up the 40 million+ specimens and objects of the Florida Museum of Natural History. With 10 chapters exploring diverse themes including the collector’s impulse, fields of adventure, remembering the lost, and saving the imperiled, award-winning environmental journalist Heather Dewar captures the vast scope of the museum’s activities to document and discover all forms of life on Earth. Profiles of pathbreaking curators explore the excitement of generating new knowledge, from living in the field with Komodo dragons to discovering new species and using cutting-edge technologies to see and share collections worldwide.

Extraordinary color, form, pattern, and texture are revealed in the stunning photography of Kristen B. Grace. Focusing on rare, beautiful, and fascinating highlights from the collections, these images, along with their compelling stories, will inspire those who love nature, science, museums, and the thrill of discovery.