The Etches Collection facts for kids
View of the building housing The Etches Collection from the main road in Kimmeridge
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| Established | 2016 |
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| Location | Kimmeridge, Dorset, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Steve Etches |
| Architect | Kennedy O'Callagahan Architects |
The Etches Collection, also known as the Museum of Jurassic Marine Life, is a special museum in Kimmeridge, Dorset, England. It holds an amazing collection of fossils. These fossils were all found by one person, Steve Etches, who spent his life searching for them. He found them in the local area, especially around Kimmeridge Bay and the Kimmeridge Ledges. This area is part of the famous Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site because of its important geology and fossils. Some of Steve's fossil discoveries were so unique that scientists even named them after him!
About the Museum Building
The museum building opened its doors in 2016. It cost about £5 million to build. The main reason for building it was to give a permanent home to Steve Etches' huge collection. This way, over 2,000 amazing fossil specimens would always be available for everyone to see and study.
What You Can See: The Collection
Steve Etches collected fossils for more than 30 years before the museum even opened. During this time, he gathered a collection of fossils that are important to scientists all over the world. These fossils are the main part of the museum's exhibits.
Amazing Fossil Finds
The collection includes many interesting things. You can see examples of ammonite eggs, which are very rare. There are also fossils from the Upper Jurassic period, found in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation. One very special fossil found here is a marine reptile called Thalassodraco etchesi. Its name means "Etches' sea dragon," named after Steve Etches himself!
