This project investigated the removal of mercury, a nondegradable, persistent chemical, from museum materials by bacteria. Mercury-resistant bacteria have the ability to convert this element into a gaseous form. The isolation of a diverse bacterial community from mercury-treated items is reported. Two nonpathogenic bacterial isolates were capable of reducing 10 mg/L mercury concentrations. Arthrobacter sp. 2604 reduced the mercury associated with a gelatin medium by 30% and a paper matrix by 20% within 10 days at 28[degree]C. Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 reduced up to 50% and 60% of the mercury, respectively. Current work is focused on the optimization of conditions for bacterial mercury removal, including the nutritional requirements and appropriate environmental conditions for remediation process.