Delaware County Institute of Science facts for kids
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| Established | 1833 |
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| Location | 11 Veterans Square, Media, Pennsylvania |
| Type | Science and natural history museum |
The Delaware County Institute of Science is a cool place in Media, Pennsylvania. It's like a museum, a library, and a learning center all rolled into one! It focuses on science and natural history. This institute started way back in 1833. Inside, you can see amazing exhibits like stuffed animals and birds, old fossils, pretty shells, and colorful corals from all over the world. They also have a special collection of dried plants called an herbarium, lots of different minerals, and a library full of science books. There's even a hall where scientists give talks!
A Look Back in Time
Imagine five friends meeting in the summer of 1833 in a town called Nether Providence, Pennsylvania. They had a great idea: to start a science group! They first thought of calling it the "Cabinet of Natural Sciences of Delaware County." These five friends were George Miller, John Miller, Minshall Painter, George Smith, and a well-known bird expert named John Cassin. On September 21, 1833, they met again and officially created the group, giving it the name we know today: the Delaware County Institute of Science.
In 1837, the Institute got its own two-story brick building in Upper Providence, Pennsylvania. More and more people joined the group, and it became an official organization in 1836. The new building opened in September 1837. A special speech was given by Robert Maskell Patterson, who was in charge of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia at the time.
From September 10 to 12, 1846, the Institute held its first public show. They displayed farm products, things made in factories, and other items from Delaware County. This show happened every year for a few years. Later, in 1855, another group called the Delaware County Agricultural Society took over these big exhibitions.
In 1867, the Institute moved to its current home in Media, Pennsylvania. The building was first planned to have a trust company on the first floor and the Institute on the second. But now, the Institute uses the whole building!
Other important people connected to the Institute include the archeologist Daniel Garrison Brinton and the botanist Graceanna Lewis.
Leaders of the Institute
Many people have served as president of the Institute over the years. Here are some of them:
- George Smith, M.D. (1833–1882)
- Honorable John M. Broomall (1882–1894)
- T. Chalkley Palmer (1894–1934)
- George Pennock (1934–1938)
- Carolus Broomall (1938–1939)
- Walter Palmer (1939–1953)
- Harold W. Arndt (1953–1960)
- Russell J. Emmons (1960–1963)
- William Blake Gibson, M.D. (1963–1990)
- Alfred C. Palmer (1990–2012)
Interestingly, at least six of the past presidents passed away while still in office. Walter Palmer was the son of T. Chalkley Palmer.
What You Can See
The Institute has many interesting things to explore! You can see exhibits of mounted animals and birds. There are also fossils, shells, and corals from all over the world. They have an herbarium, which is a special collection of dried plants used for scientific study. You'll also find a large collection of different minerals. Plus, there's a lecture hall where scientists give talks about their discoveries.
One special item they have is a rare microscope. It was designed by Joseph Zentmayer and was even shown at a big exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 called the Centennial Exposition.
The Library
The library at the Institute is a special place for learning. It's a "non-circulating reference collection," which means you can read the books there, but you can't take them home. It has thousands of books and publications about natural sciences. There's also a big collection of books about the history of the local area and Pennsylvania.
See also
