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UNUSUAL, ARTISTIC ARRANGEMENT OF COLLECTION
The Whitten Collection (Jewels of the Rain Forest) displays are presented in a totally unexpected format! They have been proclaimed “an art form” by the thousands of tourists, the world over, who have visited this museum! You will see “cascades” and “fountains” of spectacularly colored butterflies as well as “star –burst” “explosions” of metallic beetles and day-flying moths! “Armies” of stag beetles and scarabs “march” in geometric patterns, which are often reflected in mirrored backgrounds.

The Whitten Collection (Jewels of the Rain Forest) also contains many “Bioramas”, plexiglass domes, where various arthropods are shown in “natural environments”, to dramatically demonstrate BIODIVERSITY, CAMOUFLAGE & MIMICRY, PROTECTIVE COLORATION & SHAPE, PREY- PREDATOR RELATIONSHIPS, PARASITISM, "OCELLI", FLASH COLORS and other subjects of rain forest biology.

Special halogen lights have been carefully positioned to best illuminate the various exhibits. The effects are difficult to describe and must be seen, firsthand, to be appreciated. The “surround-sound” music system of the main museum hall is incorporated with several other “stereo” systems so that dynamic, and remarkably realistic tropical rain forest “natural sounds” can be heard, intermixed with classical music!

ARTIFACTS OF “INDIGENOUS RAIN FOREST” PEOPLE

are displayed throughout the museum. Numerous “MASKS” from, Central America, South America, Africa, India, China, Indonesia, etc. as well as rare “SPIRIT FIGURES” from New Guinea, may be seen. Real “SHRUNKEN HEADS” and all the “equipment” of the Head Hunters may be viewed, including - poison arrows, blow-guns, and spectacular “jewelry” made from metallic, scintillating beetle wings and parrot feathers (worn only by the men)!

MINERALS, CRYSTALS, “CHEMICAL ELEMENTS” & FOSSILS
may be studied in well-lighted surroundings. Actual fossils (and scientifically accurate replicas) of various Trilobite species as well as plant, insect, crustacean, fish, amphibian, reptile and mammal specimens are seen as well as a significant collection of “Dinosaur Memorabilia” and “Primate Osteological Material”.

The collection of “Chemical Elements” includes many which the average person has never seen in “natural, often metallic form”, like Antimony, Manganese, Tellurium, Arsenic, Germanium, Cadmium, Phosphorus, Iodine, Bismuth and Selenium.
The interesting collection of INSECTS IN AMBER shows various arthropods which were trapped in tree sap, millions of years ago and are now perfectly preserved, in minute detail!

The small collection of minerals and crystals has been selected to demonstrate the full range of color, beauty, and complex structure they possess!

THE MUSEUM LIBRARY & LABORATORY
contains large sections on RAIN FORESTS, ENTOMOLOGY, MEDICINE, BIOLOGY, PARASITOLOGY, ART OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, TANTOLOGY, ARACHNOLOGY, PALENTOLOGY, NATURAL HISTORY, OSTEOLOGY, and MICROBIOLOGY. The laboratory Is fully equipped with a full range of microscopes, from low-power “dissection microscopes", to high-power "research microscopes" - utilizing DARK FIELD, PHASE CONTRAST, RHEINBERG TRANSILLUMINATION, and POLARIZATION. These special "lighting systems" permit spectacular, multicolored, views of otherwise transparent, LIVING MICRO-ORGANISMS".
A MICRO-VIDEO CAMERA & MONITOR, permits exciting, group viewing of anything shown under the microscopes! Richard Whitten was a microbiologist for almost thirty years with Carolina Biological, in the USA and cannot “ get away” from sharing the exciting world of bacteria, protozoa, rotifers and colonial algae to anyone who shows interest!!
Richard’s huge telescope is often utilized to show visitors the rare birds in the surrounding forest or, at night, to view the MOON, VENUS, MARS, JUPITER, SATURN, the ANDROMEDA GALAXY, the SMOKE RING NEBULA, the PLEIDES STAR CLUSTER, and other astronomical objects! The skies at the are crystalline clear on nights of "good seeing"! The famous SOUTHERN CROSS constellation is visible in the early morning hours! Special "astronomy lecture-tours" are available by appointment, on clear nights.
SPECTACULAR “UP-CLOSE” VIDEO of RAIN FOREST SUBJECTS
is presented in the professional videos, titled, “ FACES IN THE RAIN FOREST” and "THROUGH THE EYES OF A BUTTERFLY”, shown to all museum visitors. These remarkable videos were videotaped by Richard Whitten in various of the world's Rain Forests. His “macro-video” footage has been requested by the BBC, the Discovery Channel, the Smithsonian, Natl. Geographic, and Oxford Scientific Films, among others. His remarkable rain forest video compilation includes rare, never-before-seen, tiny insects, spiders and other bizarre, rain forest arthropods, in their natural environment, and HIGHLY MAGNIFIED!!

ANTIQUES IN THE MUSEUM
include a 100 year old PUMP ORGAN upon which Richard Whitten often performs Bach’s “Tocatta & Fugue in D Minor”. Richard’s wife, Margaret, often plays the 110 year old BECHSTEIN GRAND PIANO! It (and Margaret) came all the way from Scotland, where Margaret’s aunt taught students piano on it for over fifty years! All visitors to the museum get to hear the beautiful REGINA MUSIC BOX. This 102 year old device plays any of the 50 or so metal discs in the Whitten collection, including Opera, Sousa marches, Strauss waltzes and Merry-Go-Round tunes. Visitors may listen to the museum’s “Freshman Masterpiece” "Five-Tube" ANTIQUE RADIO. This device was one of the first commercially available radios ever. It followed closely the original “Crystal Radio”! The EDISON PHONOGRAPH plays old, thick phonograph discs, including an original recording of Caruso in “The Sextette from Lucia de Lammermoor”!

THE “BUTTERFLY GARDENS”
surround the museum and the adjacent forest of the Whitten home in San Rafael! The Whitten's have planted numerous “ butterflies-attracting" flowers and plants to allow visitors remarkable, up-close views of “clouds of spectacular tropical butterflies“. Tiny Costa Rica has more butterfly species than does Africa! The grounds and forest surrounding the Whitten home in San Rafael are a paradise for the naturalist! NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY of the many species of butterflies, birds and tropical flowers are a must!! A special “ Butterfly Rearing Chamber” just outside the museum allows, visitors to see the caterpillars, crysalids and emerging adults of many local butterfly species.