Weis Earth Science Museum facts for kids
Weis Earth Science Museum
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| Established | 2002 |
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| Location | Menasha, Wisconsin |
| Type | Earth science |
| Nearest parking | On site |
The Weis Earth Science Museum (also called WESM) is a cool place in Menasha, Wisconsin, USA. It opened in 2002. This museum teaches you all about Wisconsin's rocks, minerals, and how people used to mine them. It's even the official museum for minerals in Wisconsin!
Contents
What You Can See and Do
The museum has many interesting parts. You can explore different themed areas. There are also hands-on displays to try out. The museum keeps about 10,000 amazing specimens. Around 1,000 of these are on display at any time.
Exploring Earth's Treasures
The museum's collections focus on Wisconsin and nearby areas. They include many types of items:
- Minerals
- Fossils (ancient life forms)
- Rocks
- Sedimentary structures (how layers of rock form)
- Geology (the study of Earth)
- Archaeology (the study of human history)
- Mining history
Fun Galleries to Visit
The museum has several exciting galleries:
- Space Rocks: See real meteors and meteorites from space.
- Introduction to the Earth: Learn how our planet was formed.
- Wisconsin Through Time: Discover Wisconsin's past, from ancient seas to ice ages.
- Wisconsin Industry: See how natural resources were used in the state.
- Water (Water Everywhere): Explore the importance of water on Earth.
- Animals Through Time: Check out amazing fossils of ancient animals. This includes the special Bruce Danz Collection.
- Barlow Gallery of Minerals: Marvel at a beautiful collection of minerals.
Learning and Research
The museum staff helps people learn about Earth science. They give tours to school groups. They are also planning virtual field trips online. This means you might be able to explore the museum from home! The museum also has scientists who study geology and paleontology. They write papers and books about their discoveries.
Who Started the Museum?
The WESM is named after Leonard and Donna Weis. They gave the money to start the museum. This gift also helped create the director's job. Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf was the first director. She helped design the exhibits. After she passed away, Dr. Joseph A. Frederickson became the new director in 2019. Dr. Donald G. Mikulic has been a volunteer curator since the museum began.
Gallery
