ALBANY, NY.- Long before mushrooms and mycology captivated the public imagination, self-taught scientist Mary Banning dedicated her life to the study of fungi. However, due to her gender, her work remained unrecognized for almost 100 years. The New York State Museum's latest exhibit, "Outcasts: Mary Banning's World of Mushrooms," celebrates Banning's rich legacy as one of America's first mycologists, who uncovered, documented, and illustrated 23 fungal species new to science in the mid-1800s.

Banning, devoting any precious free time she had outside of domestic obligations to her research, completed her unpublished manuscript, “Fungi of Maryland,” in 1899. The manuscript contained 175 exquisite watercolor illustrations and descriptions of mushroom species. It was entrusted to then-New York State Museum Mycologist Charles Peck and remained hidden in the Museum’s collection for nearly a century before being rediscovered in the 1980s.

Curator of Mycology Dr. Patricia Kaishian said, “Just as fungi were seen throughout history as ‘outcasts’ by Western European scholars, so too were women, including Mary Banning. Mycology has a long, vast history, and Banning’s legacy deserves to be widely known and celebrated. Our team has spent months reviewing her inspiring work in order to craft a comprehensive, interactive exhibit that not only tells the story of fungal research, but that of a woman who dedicated herself to science despite many obstacles. Many of these artifacts have not been on display in several decades, presenting a rare opportunity for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.”

Director of Exhibitions Carrie Ross said, “This exhibit transports visitors through time and is a direct result of our team's passion and dedication. Over the past several months, they meticulously reviewed the Museum's collection to create an exhibition that truly embodies the groundbreaking work of Mary Banning and other pioneering mycologists. We are thrilled to introduce this exhibition to the public during Women's History Month and look forward to the sense of exploration and discovery it will inspire in our guests.”

This new exhibit features some of the most prized objects in the Museum’s collections, including:

• 28 original watercolors illustrated by Banning, which will be rotated every six months to ensure best archival practices.

• Banning’s manuscript and book cover.

• An 11-foot-long fossilized fungus found in Orange County, N.Y., estimated to be 370-420 million years old.

• 12 wax mushroom sculptures completed in 1917 by Henri Marchand as a gift for Peck.

To further increase accessibility, each watercolor features a QR-coded label leading to a dedicated webpage with the text of Banning’s detailed description. The exhibit also includes an interactive wall allowing visitors to explore what a mushroom feels like and a 3D tactile table bringing Banning’s illustrations to life for guests with visual impairments and low vision.