Puget Sound Museum of Natural History is a working, interactive laboratory for the study and curation of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants of the Puget Sound region. Housing more than 75,000 specimens, mostly from Washington, Oregon, and western North America, the museum has become a valued resource for researchers at the university and in the region, local teachers and students, and researcher others around the world.
In 2007 renovations to Thompson Hall created new spaces for the museum and new opportunities to showcase its collections, including glass display cases at the museum entrance and windows that offer visitors a glimpse behind the scenes when staff members and students are working to conserve specimens. In 2013–14 additional display cases were installed in the museum entry, and will feature rotating exhibits and special collections.