The Lake Clark National Park and Preserve museum collection consists of more than 70,000 objects—from an impressive herbarium collection to the many journals, letters, and objects from the park's most famous resident, Dick Proenneke.
Collections staff also care for archeological artifacts from extensive surveys, over 2,000 historic photographs, a rich collection of oral history interviews, fossils, archives, preserved small mammals, and other items reflecting the cultural and natural history of this unique place.
As of 2006, items in the collection are:
Archeological artifacts: 6,209
Ethnographic items: 233
Historical photos, artifacts, and documents: 10,001
Documents in the park archives: 51,105
Biological specimens: 3,174
Paleontological specimens: 39
Geological samples: 18
Total: 70,779
Many of these items are fragile and require special conservation. The museum specialists at Lake Clark National Park and Preserve ensure that these irreplaceable pieces of the past will be available to future generations.