2024 Burke Museum Report to the Community
We’re resourceful here at the Burke.
Staff from around the building regularly amaze me with their creative solutions to some pretty specific problems. Did you know that you can make a last-minute gravity well out of a hula hoop and a piece of spandex? Or that pointy, flexible porcupine quills are a favorite tool for working with the smallest fossils under a microscope?
We’re also full of resources. Tiny tissue samples, bird wings, and baskets fill cabinets, shelves, and deep freezers. At the other end of the scale, full-size canoes and massive dinosaur jaws set the scene in exhibit spaces. Our collections contain vast stores of scientific and cultural knowledge and artistry and offer infinite possibilities and stories.
But our greatest resource is our community. As you’ll see in this annual report, friends and supporters — like you! — generously provide time, enthusiasm, and countless other contributions that make the work of the museum possible and meaningful. Each year, your gifts allow us to meet essential community needs around the various facets of our mission— creating valuable opportunities for learning, inspiration, joy, and healing. Thank you!
Gabriela Chavarria
Executive Director
