Exhibitions

Mary Elizabeth Banning (1822–1903) was one of the first American mycologists, specialists in the study of fungi. She was a talented, self-taught scientist who studied mushrooms in Maryland in the mid-1800s. Banning was also one of the first women to describe new species of fungi to science. Throughout her life, she produced scientific descriptions, beautiful illustrations, and rich narratives about her fungal encounters.

This exhibition features 28 exquisite original watercolors and detailed descriptions of mushroom species from Banning’s unpublished manuscript The Fungi of Maryland. Banning dedicated her manuscript to her contemporary, Charles H. Peck, the New York State Botanist and preeminent mycologist at the New York State Museum from the mid-1800s until the early 1900s. Also on exhibit are a selection of Peck’s laboratory equipment, mushroom specimens collected by Banning, as well as letters Banning sent to Peck during their 30-year correspondence. These artifacts are complemented by a dozen lifelike wax models from the NYSM Natural History Collection that were once displayed at the Museum in the early 1900s.

Step into the fascinating world of fungi and discover their vital roles in our ecosystems. Learn more about the New York State Mycology Collection and the science of fungi through the research of New York State Museum Curator of Mycology, Dr. Patricia Kaishian. Discover Prototaxites, a fossilized fungus from the Devonian period, on view in the exhibit, found in Orange County, NY. Thought to be the tallest land-dwelling organism of its time, don’t miss the opportunity to view this prehistoric giant that once towered over ancient landscapes between 420 and 370 million years ago.

From microscopic spores to vast underground networks, the kingdom of fungi is a world of astonishing diversity, hidden connections, and scientific intrigue. Whether fossilized in ancient landscapes or meticulously documented by pioneering mycologists like Mary Elizabeth Banning, fungi continue to reveal new stories about our planet’s past and present—yet so much remains to be uncovered.

A world of mushrooms awaits!