Fryxell Geology Museum

Earth's history as told by its rocks, minerals and fossils!

The museum, named after Dr. Fritiof Fryxell, has become one of the largest and finest collections of rocks, minerals and fossils in the Midwest. Begun in the late 1880s with a modest natural history collection, the museum now boasts over 1,500 rock, mineral, and fossil specimens.

On display are a complete skeleton of a Tylosaurus "sea serpent", skulls of Parasaurolophus, Ankylosaurus, Apatosaurus, Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex and a 2-billion-year-old fossil!

Of particular interest is a state-of-the-art fluorescent mineral display and an exhibit of the complete 22-foot long skeleton of Cryolophosaurus, a large crested carnivorous dinosaur discovered in Antarctica in 1991 by Augustana paleontologist Dr. William Hammer.

The museum is open to the public and free-of-charge. We also offer free school fieldtrip programs and geology discovery kits.

Questions about meteorites? Click here for information.

Hours and location

Admission is free.

The Fryxell Geology Museum is located in the Swenson Hall of Geosciences (near the Admissions Office). Use the 38th Street campus entrance. (Map)

The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and from 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday during the academic school year. (The school year begins, August 23, 2010).

Free school field trips generally are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday through Friday during the academic year.

For specific times and dates to schedule field trips, or for information about summer hours, please call (309) 794-7318 in advance.