Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

“Conservation easement (restriction) is not currently disclosed in the organization's financial statements.”

“Financial statement footnote footnote a - summary of significant accounting policies collections and exhibits collections and exhibits, which were acquired through purchases and contributions since the museum's inception, are not recognized as assets on the statement of financial position. Purchases of collections and exhibits are recorded as a decrease in net assets without donor restrictions in the year the items are acquired or as a decrease in net assets without donor restrictions if the assets used to purchase the items are restricted by donors. Contributed collections and exhibits are not reflected on the financial statements. Proceeds from deaccessions or insurance recoveries are reflected as increases in the appropriate net asset classes.”

“Collections abstracted from a report submitted to the board of trustees by dr. Frederick j. Dunford: the museums first organizational meeting was held on february 20,1954. From the beginning, the founders were focused on educating local cape cod children about the environment that surrounded them (and by this time, was beginning to disappear). With advice and direction from dr. Charles russell, retired head of the department of eduction at the american museum of natural history in new york, they set about creating a childrens museum, that " offered a place to make something or to learn. It was not a collection of materials as such, but a collection of individuals producing materials, which might have to do with the life history of clams, or the seasonal changes in the ground underfoot." the cape cod junior museum of natural history was born and so it remained until 1962 when the name was changed to the cape cod museum of natural history. Categories of the museums permanent collection: avian skins and mounts (comprised of several collections and individual accessions). Avian eggs (oological; consisting of one collection). Rocks, minerals and sand (comprised of several collections and individual accessions). Fossils including petrified wood (comprised of several collections). Marine shells (numerous collections). Marine invertebrates (one small research collection). Marine mammal (numerous individual accessions). Reptile and amphibian (several accessions primarily turtle/ tortoise shells). Mammal skins and mounts (several accessions).”

“Intended uses for the organization's endowment funds include research, exhibits, property acquisitions, scholarships and education, and general operating expenses.”