Sherbrooke Nature and Science Museum facts for kids
| Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke | |
The Sherbrooke Nature and Science Museum is located within a former factory
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| Established | 2002 |
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| Location | 225, rue Frontenac Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 1K1 |
| Type | Natural history museum and Science museum |
| Collection size | 65,000 |
| Visitors | 40,000 (2011) |
The Sherbrooke Nature and Science Museum (which in French is Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke) is an exciting place in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. It's a museum all about nature and science! You can find it at 225 Frontenac Street in the heart of Sherbrooke.
Many different groups help the museum with money. This includes the City of Sherbrooke and parts of the Canadian and Quebec governments. Private groups and sponsors also help out.
Contents
Museum History: How It Started
The museum has a cool history that goes way back! It first opened in 1879. Back then, it was called the Musée du Séminaire de Sherbrooke.
From School to Museum Building
The original museum was inside the Séminaire de Sherbrooke. This is a school building on Marquette Street. It held many interesting objects and specimens related to nature and science.
A Big Move and New Home
In the fall of 2002, the museum went through a huge change. It moved to a new, much bigger building. This new home is called the Julius-Kayser Building. It used to be a factory that made clothes! The new space is about 5,000 square meters, which is a lot of room for exhibits.
What You Can See: Collections and Exhibits
The museum has a massive collection of over 65,000 items! These items show how diverse nature is in Quebec, Canada, and even around the world.
Amazing Nature Collections
The museum's collection includes many different types of specimens. You can see:
- Specimens of amphibians, reptiles, and fish
- Items from archaeology (things from the past)
- About 4,000 different kinds of birds
- 1,000 plant and animal fossils
- A huge collection of 30,000 invertebrates (animals without backbones, like insects)
- 500 different mammals
- 2,000 types of plants
- 250 kinds of fungi
- 4,000 rocks and minerals
Science and Other Objects
Besides nature, the museum also has scientific instruments. These are tools used for science. There are also many other interesting objects to explore.
Exhibition Halls and Fun Areas
The museum has different areas for visitors to enjoy.
- There's a main exhibition hall with a permanent display about the four seasons.
- You can also find temporary exhibition halls that change over time.
- There's an interactive science theatre where you can learn by doing.
- A multi-functional hall is used for different events.
- You can relax in a special area or visit the museum's shop.
