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Fryxell Geology Museum

One of the largest and finest collections of rocks, minerals and fossils in the Midwest.

Schedule a free field trip
Dr. William Hammer
Visitors are greeted by a 22-foot-long skeleton of a Cryolophosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur discovered in Antarctica in 1991 by Dr. William Hammer.

The museum will be closed Saturday, March 23 through Monday, April 1, for spring break. The museum will reopen at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2.

Regular hours: The museum welcomes visitors from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday,  and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday when classes are in session.

School group tours are now available. Please email Susan Wolf for information.

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The collection

The museum is named after Dr. Fritiof Fryxell, professor of geology from 1929-1973. It began in the late 1880s with a modest natural history collection. Today, the collection holds over 20,000 rock, mineral and fossil specimens, with 1,500 on display.

Highlights include a wall of glowing, fluorescent rocks, a cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull, and a complete 22-foot long skeleton of Cryolophosaurus, a large crested carnivorous dinosaur discovered in Antarctica.

Hours

Regular hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday when classes are in session.

The museum will be closed March 23-April 1 for spring break. The museum will reopen at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2.

Location

The museum is housed in the Swenson Hall of Geosciences, adjacent to Founder's Hall and Ascension Chapel.

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