Fungarium! Exhibit Coming to Central Park Nature Center
Join Art McBreen, Treasurer of the Prairie States Mushroom Club, on Wednesday, March 4th at Noon for an engaging Lunch & Learn presentation celebrating the launch of the Fungarium! exhibit at the Central Park Nature Center.
On display from March through the end of May, this fascinating exhibit showcases mushrooms collected and preserved by Art and highlights the remarkable story behind its creation and journey.
During the presentation, Art will share the history and inspiration behind Fungarium!, which has traveled to various Nature Centers and an eastern Iowa museum. Whether you’re curious about mushrooms themselves or intrigued by the story of the exhibit, this program promises a captivating exploration into the world of fungi. A light mushroom soup luncheon will be provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center.
From Fairfield’s Toadstool Club of the 1920s to today’s Prairie States Mushroom Club, Iowa’s fascination with fungi continues to grow. Fungarium! serves as a sampler of the rich intersection of history, science, art, and nature — reflecting the “Wood Wide Web” that connects trees through vast underground fungal networks.
The exhibit features nearly six dozen specimens, most collected in Jefferson, Washington, and Van Buren counties. Each mushroom has been carefully freeze-dried to preserve its color, shape, and natural beauty. Visitors will also enjoy Artist’s Conks, mushroom-dyed wool, spore prints, calendars, photographs, and children’s coloring pages generously shared or loaned by their creators. Posters have been graciously provided by the North American Mycological Association (NAMA).
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the fascinating world of fungi right here at the Central Park Nature Center!


