 |
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
Western Illinois Museum of Geology
Andrea Willis The Western Illinois Museum of Geology was founded in 1975. John Jusskobites, the Western Illinois University (WIU) paleontologist at that time, and Dr. Dave Hurby of the WIU Geology Department, saw the need for a learning center for both WIU students as well as area residents. The idea of a museum was formed to meet this need and to share geological information with interested citizens of western Illinois. Over the last twenty years, the WIU Geology Museum has displayed exhibits and has been very active publishing its findings. There are more than forty displays dealing with minerals and rocks and their economic uses. The displays deal with topics such as Ice Age glaciers, recycling, draining systems, natural resources, and creation of most of the earth's geologic forms. Perhaps the largest success of the museum is its popularity among area school children. Groups of all ages tour the museum regularly, and in doing so, learn a great deal about how the earth was formed. The two big highlights of the museum are the fossilized remains of a dimetrodon and an actual skull from a tyrannosaurus rex. School children generally agree that this is the best part of the tour. Through the years, the museum has faced a number of challenges. Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by this museum and, in fact, many museums throughout the country is that of financing. The WIU museum is fortunate, however, since it is funded by the State of Illinois. Even so, decision makers must constantly be convinced that such things as museums are good investments. Another challenge faced by the museum is that of promotion. Having a museum is fine if there are people who are willing to come and be a part of it. Area schools must be reminded from time to time that the WIU Geology Museum is their museum, and as such, there is no charge for admission. A distinctive thing about the WIU Geology Museum is its wonderful artwork. It contains a geologic time mural hand-painted by a number of geological artists. It traces the geological timeline from the creation of the earth through modern history, showing much that one should know about the earth's geological history. A visit to the WIU Museum of Geology will also link visitors to other similar museums, such as the University of California Museum of Paleontology, the Illinois State Museum, the Natural History Museum in London, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.—[From John Hallwas, Macomb—A Pictorial History; <www.macomb.com/maccvb/attractions.html>; Infobahn Outfitters, Macomb, Illinois Attractions.]
|
|
|