With more than 3 1/2 million specimens, this is the third-largest museum of its type in the United States (after the Field Museum in Chicago and the American Museum of Natural History in New York). Since 1913, the museum has boasted a rich collection of prehistoric fossils and extensive bird, insect, and marine-life exhibits. Brilliant stones shimmer in the Gem and Mineral Hall. An elaborate taxidermy exhibit shows North American and African mammals in detailed replicas of their natural habitats. Exhibits typifying various cultural groups include pre-Columbian artifacts and a display of crafts from the South Pacific. Select exhibits, including the Ralph M. Parsons Children's Discovery Center, the Insect Zoo, and segments of the Native American Culture Hall, will be temporarily relocated to the ground floor through 2008 while the Museum works to restore their building back to its original splendor.