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How to Store Oversized Museum Collections

Tips for saving space and protecting artifacts and specimens, no matter the size.

April 30th, 2020 - 2 min read

A museum's mission to protect and preserve artifacts, artwork, or natural history specimens may require storing a variety of objects – some of which may be exceptionally large or heavy.

To accommodate these oversized objects, Spacesaver's local museum planning consultants can design compact High-Density Mobile Storage systems, oversized museum cabinets, and other innovative shelving solutions that optimize space and keep large objects organized and protected. Spacesaver's mobile systems eliminate wasted aisle space, promoting the efficient use of space while also maintaining the highest standards of accessibility and preservation.

How Should Oversized Objects be Stored?

In the past, large museum objects like furniture or farm implements were stored on the floor. However, most experts today agree objects should never be stored directly on the floor because of the risk of damage from flooding, water seepage, mildew, pests, or other hazards. Shelving or compact storage systems allow objects to be stored off the floor and away from potential damage.

When space is a concern, heavy-duty High-Density Mobile Shelving systems can be used to efficiently store even the largest museum objects.

Below are three examples of industrial-strength mobile storage solutions that optimize space for even the heaviest museum objects and may inspire the best solution for your collections.

Heavy-Duty Preservation

The Naval Undersea Museum uses our ActivRAC® Mobilized Storage system to safely store thousands of pounds of torpedoes on their seismic rated system.

Moveable Museum Collections

At the Ingenium Centre, their unique collections prompted the project's architect to ponder many questions, including how to stack automobiles on shelves. The museum selected Spacesaver's ActivRAC® Mobilized Storage System and industrial-grade cantilever shelving to store horse-drawn buggies, farm implements, snowmobiles, and more.

Widespan Museum Shelving

Museums seeking shelving for large items frequently turn to our reconfigurable RaptorRAC® Widespan shelving. With reliable steel construction, curators benefit from the systems longer lifespan compared to aluminum alternatives.

The Field Museum uses RaptorRAC® Widespan Shelving to store large natural history specimens. Learn how shelving was mounted on compact mobile storage systems to fully optimize space and allow even their largest items to be stored efficiently.