Geology Hall, New Brunswick, New Jersey facts for kids
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Geology Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Geology Hall in 2020
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 Location in New Brunswick, NJ
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey |
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| Part of | Queens Campus, Rutgers University (ID73001113) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Designated CP | July 2, 1973 |
Geology Hall, also known as Geological Hall, is a historic building located on the Queens Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It was built between 1871 and 1872. The building was first used for science classes and to house the Rutgers Geology Museum.
The museum started in 1872 thanks to George Hammell Cook, who was a geology professor at Rutgers. He built on a collection of rocks and fossils that began in the 1830s. Over time, as classes and offices moved out, the museum grew to fill the entire building. In 1973, Geology Hall became a recognized historic place. It was added to both the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is part of a larger historic area that includes other important Rutgers buildings like Old Queens and Kirkpatrick Chapel.
The building was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. It has a unique look that mixes old-fashioned Gothic styles with classic architectural shapes.
About Geology Hall's Design
Geology Hall stands on the Queens Campus at Rutgers University. You can find it between Van Nest Hall and Old Queens at 85 Somerset Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The building was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh. Its style is described as "straightforward," meaning it's clear and simple, but it also uses both Gothic and classical design elements.
Originally, Hardenbergh planned for the building to be made of brick. However, during the planning stage, it was decided to build Geology Hall using stone instead.
What Was Inside?
When Geology Hall was finished in 1872, it had different areas for various purposes. The first floor held science laboratories. The geological museum was located on the upper floors. In the basement, there was an armory for the college's military school.
In 1875, a funny event happened involving the armory. Students from Princeton University snuck in and stole 25 muskets (old-fashioned guns). They did this as a prank. It was a way to get back at Rutgers students who had stolen a cannon from Princeton earlier. This event is part of the famous Rutgers–Princeton Cannon War. Later, in 1912, the basement was updated to create more space for classes.
History of the Museum
The idea for the Rutgers University Geology Museum began in the 1830s. This was during the time of Lewis Caleb Beck, a well-known scientist. Beck was a chemist, doctor, and expert in minerals and plants. He collected many scientific samples. These samples were first shown in Van Nest Hall.
When Beck passed away in 1853, the Rutgers board of trustees bought his collection. They then hired George Hammell Cook as the new professor of natural sciences. In the early 1860s, Cook convinced the trustees to create a Scientific School. He also helped Rutgers become New Jersey's "land-grant university" under the Morrill Act of 1862. This act gave land and money to states to create colleges focused on agriculture and mechanical arts.
Building the Hall
Rutgers received these grants in 1864. However, expanding the science programs and having fewer students caused money problems for the university. In 1870, Rutgers' president and the trustees started raising money. They wanted to support the Scientific School and celebrate Rutgers' 100th birthday.
They raised a lot of money, about $121,000. The university decided to use $63,000 of this to build a new building. This building would be located between Old Queens and Van Nest Hall. It would house many of the Scientific School's departments.
Henry Janeway Hardenbergh was chosen to design and build the new hall. He was a direct descendant of Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, Rutgers' first president. Construction of Geology Hall started in April 1871. The cornerstone was laid in a special ceremony on June 20, 1871. The Governor of New Jersey, Theodore Fitz Randolph, was there. A time capsule was placed inside the cornerstone. It held local newspapers and a history of Rutgers University. The building was finished in June 1872 and officially opened on June 18, 1872.
Museum Growth and Changes
The Geology Museum officially opened in 1872 on the upper floors of Geology Hall. In 1892, Albert Huntington Chester became its first curator. He found the museum's collection disorganized. So, in 1893, he hired William S. Valiant to help sort everything out. Valiant slowly took over Chester's duties. After Chester's death in 1903, Valiant became the curator.
In 1896, Valiant wrote to Science magazine. He described the museum's collection as having almost 20,000 items. This included a large mastodon skeleton! By 1903, the collection had grown to 30,000 items. In 1926, Rutgers' Physics Department moved out of Geology Hall. This allowed the museum to expand and take up more space in the building. The museum's collection grew even more in 1940. It received the mineral collection of George Rowe. He had been a director at the New Jersey Zinc Company mine in Franklin, New Jersey.
On January 29, 1973, Geology Hall and other 19th-century buildings on the Queens Campus were added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Then, on July 2, 1973, they were also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Starting in 1976, the museum changed its main goal. Instead of focusing mostly on research, it began to focus on teaching and reaching out to the public. In 1977, the Geology Department moved to new offices on Rutgers' Busch Campus. This left the Geology Museum as the only occupant of Geology Hall.
In 2013, there were rumors that the university might close the museum. People worried that the exhibits would be put into storage. However, many alumni (former students) and people from the public wrote letters. Their efforts convinced the university to keep the museum open and invest in its future.
