Joyce Donham has brought a new retail idea to downtown Lawrence — a museum gift shop without the museum.

That’s how customers are describing Donham’s new store, Wild Territory, at 809 Mass. The store sells items that you would expect to find at a natural science museum — everything from fossils and butterfly collections to models of the human body.

“What I really set out to do is make the experience of coming into the store like opening up a textbook,” Donham said.

Donham tries to target educators and parents who are looking to teach their children about science or nature.

“I really think the place rivals a museum shop,” said Sue Kapfer, a Lawrence resident who was in the store Friday. “Every time I come in here Joyce teaches me something. I learn about something I never even knew existed.”

Donham is a former junior high science teacher, microbiologist and zoo educator from Oklahoma. She came to Lawrence late last year to enroll in Kansas University’s museum science program and decided instead to start the store, which is located in the back half of the building that houses Prairie Pond Studio, a downtown clothing and textile art store.

Donham orders many of her items from the same companies where universities and school districts buy their scientific teaching supplies. The store’s inventory includes animal skulls, a stuffed bat, insect collections, many fossils, sharks’ teeth, posters of the human body and a replica T-Rex dinosaur skull. The store also includes some items that aren’t directly related to science or nature but are educational nonetheless, like a $2,000 suit of armor and a variety of African and Brazilian masks.

Donham said the store seemed to be a favorite with children.

“Kids just love this stuff,” Donham said. “There’s something about it that gets them hooked and then they start learning and they don’t even know they’re learning. That’s the real key. Kids will listen to your every word if you have good props to show them.”

Donham hoped the store also would appeal to nature lovers looking for some unique decorations for their home.

“Nature is just beautiful,” Donham said. “I don’t want to sound weird or anything, but even a skull is beautiful if you understand it. We have a lot of items that can add beauty to your home but also teach you something in the process.”

Donham said the decision to open the store in Lawrence came in part because she has family in the area, but also because Lawrence was the type of town open to new ideas.

“It is just so eclectic,” Donham said. “It’s well known for unusual and unique stores.”

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.