Midgley Museum facts for kids
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| Location | 1001 Sequoyah Drive Enid, Oklahoma, United States |
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The Midgley Museum is a special place in Enid, Oklahoma. It is owned by the city. This museum shows off an amazing collection of rocks and minerals. You can even see a huge, 7,000-pound petrified tree stump! Some rocks here glow under a special black light. The museum is run by local groups called the Northwest Oklahoma Masonic Lodges.
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Discovering the Midgley Museum's Past
The interesting items you see at the Midgley Museum were gathered by the Midgley family. They moved to the United States from England in the 1870s. The Midgleys were farmers who grew wheat and hay. As they traveled to sell their crops, they also collected unique and beautiful rocks.
The family even hired skilled builders from Texas. These builders used the rocks the Midgleys had found to construct their home. Later, the Midgley family gave their entire collection and their special rock house to the city of Enid. This is how it became the museum we know today.
What You Can Explore at the Museum
The house itself is a big part of the museum's display. It is built from all the different rocks and minerals the Midgleys collected over many years.
Amazing Rock Collections
In the front yard, you will find a giant, 7,000-pound petrified tree stump. This huge stump was discovered near Woodward, Oklahoma. Petrified wood is like a fossil; it was once a living tree that turned into rock over millions of years. The museum's fireplace is made from very valuable fossil stone. There is also a large gypsum selenite crystal, which is a type of clear mineral. This crystal is the biggest one ever taken from Oklahoma's Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.
The museum's full collection of rocks and minerals includes more than 30 different kinds. You can see exotic rocks, fossil stones, sparkling crystals, colorful agate, sandstone, and more petrified wood.
The Glowing Black Light Room
One of the coolest parts of the museum is a small room, like a closet. It is filled with rocks that glow! When you step inside, a special black light turns on. This light makes the fluorescent rocks shine with bright, amazing colors. It is a truly unique sight to see.
The Trophy Room's Wildlife
The museum also has a "trophy room." Here, you can see stuffed animals like a large buffalo, a Royal Canadian elk, and a moose. There are also smaller animals called javelinas. This room gives you a glimpse of different wildlife.
