Burpee Museum of Natural History facts for kids
The Burpee Museum of Natural History, with the Solem Wing on the left and the Manny Mansion on the right
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| Established | 1942 |
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| Location | 737 North Main St. Rockford, Illinois |
| Type | Natural history |
| Public transit access |  RMTD |
The Burpee Museum of Natural History is a cool place to explore nature and history. It's located right by the Rock River in downtown Rockford, Illinois, USA. You can find it at 737 North Main Street. This museum is packed with amazing exhibits, especially dinosaurs!
Discovering the Museum's History
The Burpee Museum was started a long time ago. It was part of a big project to create jobs in 1941. The museum officially opened its doors on May 24, 1942. Today, the museum is made up of four main buildings. These include the Manny Mansion, the Barnes Mansion, the Solem Wing, and the Water Lab.
The Solem Wing: Where the Fun Happens
The Solem Wing is the part of the museum where visitors go. It was built in the winter of 1998. This wing holds all the exciting exhibits and a gift shop. It also has meeting rooms, labs, and a big auditorium. The wing is named after Robert H. Solem. He was a very generous supporter and friend of the museum.
Old Mansions with New Purposes
The Manny Mansion was built in 1852. It used to be an art museum. Now, it's connected to the Solem Wing. This mansion is used for museum classrooms and offices.
Before the museum grew, everything was in the Barnes Mansion. This mansion was built in 1893. It was once owned by a businessman named William Fletcher Barnes. Today, the Barnes Mansion has meeting rooms and offices for the museum staff.
The Water Lab: Learning About the River
The Water Lab is a special facility right on the Rock River. Students from 6th grade through high school use this lab. They collect water samples from the river. Then, they analyze the samples to learn about the river's health. This lab helps kids understand the environment.
Amazing Exhibits to Explore
The Burpee Museum has many exciting exhibits. You can learn about dinosaurs, ancient forests, and even how our Earth was formed. There are also displays about early people and local wildlife.
Jane: A Dinosaur's Story
One of the most famous exhibits is "Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur". Jane (BMRP 2002.4.1) is a young Tyrannosaurus rex. Some scientists think she might be a Nanotyrannus lancensis. She was found in Montana in 2001. Jane is named after Jane Solem, a museum supporter.
After four years of careful work, Jane is now on display. Visitors can see her 21-foot skeleton. You can also learn what happened during the 66 million years she was buried. Jane was about 11 years old when she died. She is half the size of "Sue", a 43-foot-long T. rex at another museum. Jane's big feet and strong legs suggest she was very fast. Her lower jaw has 17 sharp, curved teeth for tearing meat.
The Jane exhibit also shows other dinosaur casts. There's a huge 40-foot Tyrannosaurus rex cast. You can also see Homer, a very complete young Triceratops fossil. Homer was found in Montana in 2005. His full skeleton is now on display in the "Homer's Odyssey" exhibit.
In 2006, a TV show called The Mystery Dinosaur aired. It was about Jane's discovery. It also talked about the debate over whether she is a young T. rex or a different type of dinosaur. In 2007, Jane was even nominated as one of Illinois' Seven Wonders!
The Carboniferous Coal Forest
Step into a two-story tall prehistoric coal forest! This exhibit shows what the local landscape looked like 300 million years ago. You'll see giant insects and amphibians from that time. The display is like the Mazon Creek fossil beds in Illinois. These beds are famous for preserving ancient plants and animals. The exhibit also features the Tullimonstrum gregarium, also known as the Tully Monster. This mysterious creature is the state fossil of Illinois!
The Ordovician Sea
Near the front desk, you'll find the Ordovician Sea exhibit. It shows local fossils from the Ordovician period. There's also a diorama of what Rockford looked like 455 million years ago. Back then, it was a huge sea with coral reefs!
Geoscience: Shaping Our Earth
This section focuses on how our Earth was formed. You'll learn about the forces that shape our planet. Displays cover geology, a 10-foot glacier model, and amazing rocks and minerals. You can also learn about plate tectonics and how landforms are created.
The First People
Learn about the history of humankind in North America. The First People exhibit has a full-size wigwam and tipi. You can also see an American bison and a dugout canoe that you can climb into. Videos in this display teach you about Native American lifestyles and archeology.
Windows to Wilderness: Exploring Local Nature
This exhibit focuses on the wildlife of the Rock River Valley. You'll see live animals and mounted wildlife. There are also models of common landscapes from the area. This exhibit has fun, hands-on activities perfect for kids.
The Fossil Preparation Viewing Lab
The Fossil Preparation Lab gives you a peek behind the scenes. The Burpee Museum has skilled staff who work on fossils. They restore and care for specimens found at the museum's dig sites. These sites are in places like Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. You can watch them work through large glass windows. This lab shows how specimens are prepared for exhibits or the museum's collection. The Burpee Museum has over 100,000 items in its permanent collection!
See also
- Hanksville-Burpee Quarry
Images for kids
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Homer's bones after preparation in August 2012. These bones were prepared for a new exhibit opening in May 2013.
