Where to find geology museums in the USA?

The USA is home to great geology museums, both large and small, where you can learn a lot. Most of the major natural history museums in the United States have extensive geology exhibits. Examples include the:

1.Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.;

2. Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois;

3. Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;

4. American Museum of Natural History in New York City;

5. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles, California.

Are there any smaller museums that are devoted to geology?

Yes. In addition to the larger museums mentioned above, there are many smaller museums that are exclusively devoted to geology, minerals, and gems. Here is just a small sampling, arranged by state:

1. Delaware, Mineralogical Museum, University of Delaware

Delaware
Mineralogical Museum
University of Delaware
114 Old College
Newark, DE 19716
Phone: 302-831-4940
This mineral collection numbers over 5,000 specimens-600 on display in the Irenee du Pont Mineral Room (her personal collection forms the core of the museum).

2. New Jersey, Rutgers University Geology Museum, Geology Hall, Old Queens Section

New Jersey
Rutgers University Geology Museum
Geology Hall, Old Queens Section
College Avenue Campus
New Brunswick, NJ 0890]
Phone: 732-932-7243

This museum emphasizes New Jersey geology and anthropology. The museum includes a 30-foot (lO-meter) geologic cross section of New Jersey (from the Delaware Water Gap to the southern New Jersey coastal plain), mineral exhibits, and a small rock shop.

3. New Mexico, Mineralogical Museum, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources

New Mexico
Mineralogical Museum
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
New Mexico Tech
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801
Phone: 505-835-5140

The main exhibit hall highlights minerals from New Mexico, with over 2,000 specimens on display. There are also minerals from around the southwestern United States and the world, in addition to mining memorabilia, fossils, and an ultraviolet mineral exhibit.

4. Oregon, Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals

Oregon
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
26385 NW Groveland Dr.
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: 503-647-2418

This museum collection includes thousands of specimens from around the world, one of the two finest red rhodochrosite specimens in the world, and rare and beautiful gem crystals.

5. Pennsylvania, Earth & Mineral Sciences Museum and Art Gallery, Penn State University

Pennsylvania
Earth & Mineral Sciences Museum and Art Gallery
Penn State University
112 Steidle Bldg.
Pollock Road
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-6427

The museum has more than 22,000 specimens of rocks, minerals, and fossils, and the world’s most extensive collection of mineral properties exhibits.

6. South Carolina, Bob Campbell Geology Museum, Clemson University

South Carolina
Bob Campbell Geology Museum
Clemson University
103 Garden Trail
Clemson, SC 29634-0130
Phone: 864-656-4600

There are over 5,000 specimens in this museum’s collection, along with fossils from around the world, meteorites, a display of fluorescent minerals, “hands-on” specimens, a 2,000-volume library, and displays of historic mining artifacts.

7. South Dakota, Museum of Geology, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

South Dakota
Museum of Geology
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
O’Harra Bldg.
501 East St. Joseph
Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone: 605-394-2467

There are nearly 300,000 specimens of fossils, rocks, and minerals in this museum, with an emphasis the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

8. Virginia, Virginia Tech Geological Sciences Museum, Department of Geological Sciences

Virginia
Virginia Tech Geological Sciences Museum
Department of Geological Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
4044 Derring Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0420

This museum contains displays of fossils, an extensive mineral collection, and exhibits of local mining history.

9. Mineral Museum, James Madison University, Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences

Mineral Museum
James Madison University
Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences
MSC 7703
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Phone: 540-568-6421

Features over 500 crystals and gemstones from around the world.