A. D. Buck Museum of Science and History facts for kids
| Established | 1913 |
|---|---|
| Type | 1220 E. Grand Tonkawa, Oklahoma |
| Founder | C. E. Johnson |
The A. D. Buck Museum of Science and History is a cool museum in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. You can find it right on the campus of Northern Oklahoma College (NOC).
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's History
How It Started
This museum is one of the oldest college museums in Oklahoma. It first opened its doors in 1913. A biology teacher named C. E. Johnson started it. He taught a class where students learned to prepare animal specimens. Many of these early projects became part of the museum's collection.
Name Changes and New Homes
The museum was first called the Yellow Bull Museum. This name honored a chief from the Nez Perce tribe. Later, in 1966, the museum got a new name. It was renamed to honor A. D. Buck, who was the director for a long time. He led the museum from the 1930s until 1966.
The museum moved around a bit in its early years.
- It started in Wilkin Hall.
- That building burned down in 1914.
- The museum then moved to North Hall (also called Harold Hall).
- Finally, in 1968, the museum got its very own building!
Meet the Directors
Only four people have been in charge of the museum throughout its history. They are:
- C. E. Johnson (the founder)
- A. D. Buck (who the museum is named after)
- Leo Rodriguez
- Rex Ackerson
What You Can See: The Exhibits
The museum has lots of interesting things to explore. You can learn about both history and science.
History Exhibits
The history sections cover many cool topics:
- The story of Northern Oklahoma College.
- Information about E.W. Marland's Three Sands Oil Field.
- Details about the Tonkawa World War II Prisoner of War Camp.
- The history of William H. Vanselous' Big V Ranch.
Science Exhibits
If you love science, you'll enjoy these displays:
- Mounted animals like birds and mammals.
- The Herbert Walther Mineral/Fossil Collection. This special collection is kept in the nearby Crowder Science Hall.
Modern Updates and Visiting
The museum closed for a while in 2010 for a big update. When it reopened, the items were arranged by decade. This makes it easier to see how things changed over time. A new Welcome Center was also added. It's a place for students, staff, alumni, and visitors.
The museum is open, but you need to make an appointment to visit.
