A trip down memory lane in Fernbank Museum of Natural History

[MeargleSchmeargl]

Today (though now technically yesterday), I took a trip down memory lane to a place I haven't visited in quite a long time: the Fernbank Natural History Museum. Most of my purchased portion of my collection comes from here (some really nice specimens in the gift shop by the entrance). The primary reason I came here was actually to see the collection of GA specimens they have on display, as well as their assortment of Paleozoic specimens on display. I was thinking that if their collection in that area was lackluster, I could possibly give a donation or two from my own collection.

 

A neat feature in the sidewalks surrounding the museum are the dinosaur tracks featuring The names of contributors to the "Hall of Giants" exhibit (more on that soon):

 

 

The first thing I noticed upon entrance was the anniversary banner hanging from the upper floor walkway that overlooked the entrance to the museum itself:

 

 

After getting tickets, this is the first display you're greeted with:

 

 

This assortment comes from Solnhofen, Germany. What is really cool about this museum is that the floor is paved with fossiliferous limestone from the same place, and if you look carefully at the floor you tread upon, you may very well bump into Ammonites like these:

 

 

Cont.

 

 

 

 

[MeargleSchmeargl]

 

Of course, no museum of natural history would be complete without dinosaur skeletons:

 

 

As well as model dinosaurs:

 

 

As for their Paleozoic collection, needless to say, it was rather sparse:

 

 

Bar the gift shop, the museum had a grand total of 3 actual Paleozoic specimens: A crinoid bit hash, portions of Lepidodendron, and a plant I haven't yet heard of called Stigmaria. Kind of a downer for fans of the Paleozoic (myself included!).

 

 

Cont.

 

[MeargleSchmeargl]

I don't know why, but the other images I took from the trip are all acting up, so I can't really put anything else beyond what I already have. Curse you technology! 

 

Long story short, Seeing that their Paleozoic department seemed kinda empty, I was thinking of making a few donations to them. Maybe some of my Conasauga bugs and Tennessee Brachiopods for display!

[Tidgy's Dad]

Nice though, for a smaller and still quite new local museum.

Thanks for sharing. 

[Wrangellian]

Nice idea to donate to them, but do you expect they will put them on display? They might not, if they decide the general public will be bored by invert fossils. Some museums will have a large collection of small things but they will be stored in drawers in the back room or basement and you have to ask to see them. I would agree with you - If they're going to have a Paleozoic room at all, they should have some fossils in it! It's not like they're hard to come by.