Fryxell Geology Museum

Fryxell Geology Museum
Name	Fryxell Geology Museum
Established	1929
Location	Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
Type	Geology, Paleontology

Fryxell Geology Museum is a natural history museum located on the campus of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Established in 1929, its collections focus on geology, mineralogy, and paleontology, serving as a significant educational resource for students and the public. The museum is named for Fritiof Fryxell, a noted geologist, mountaineer, and professor at the college who was instrumental in its development and expansion.

History

The museum's origins trace back to the early 20th century with the geological collections of Augustana College professors. It was formally established in 1929, coinciding with the arrival of Fritiof Fryxell, a graduate of the University of Chicago and a protégé of famed geologist Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin. Fryxell, who also participated in expeditions with the National Park Service to sites like the Grand Tetons, dramatically expanded the collections through field work and acquisitions. Under his leadership, which spanned decades, the museum became a center for regional geological study, with its holdings growing to include significant fossil and mineral specimens from across the Midwest and beyond. The museum has continued to evolve, with later curators and faculty from the Augustana Geology Department adding to its research and educational mission.

Collections

The museum's permanent collections encompass over 20,000 specimens, with strengths in regional paleontology and global mineralogy. The paleontological holdings include extensive invertebrate fossils from the Paleozoic Ordovician and Silurian periods of the local Mississippi River valley, as well as a diverse array of vertebrate fossils. The mineralogy collection features specimens from classic locales such as Pikes Peak in Colorado, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and various mines in Illinois and Iowa. Additional collections include a representative suite of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, along with a collection of meteorites and tektites. These materials support both academic research for the Augustana community and the creation of public exhibits.

Exhibits

Public exhibits are arranged in a single, spacious gallery designed for self-guided exploration. Displays are organized thematically, with major sections dedicated to dinosaurs, Ice Age megafauna, minerals, and regional fossils. Highlights include several mounted dinosaur skeletons, such as a Tyrannosaurus rex skull cast and a complete Triceratops skeleton, alongside impressive mineral specimens like large geodes and crystal formations. Interactive elements and detailed interpretive labels explain geological concepts, plate tectonics, and the process of fossilization. The exhibits aim to illustrate the geologic time scale and the earth's dynamic history, connecting global phenomena to the local geology of the Quad Cities region.

Building and location

The museum is housed within the Swenson Hall of Geosciences on the campus of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. The building, named for benefactor Peter J. Swenson, is shared with the college's Geology Department, providing direct integration between the museum's collections and academic instruction. The campus is situated near the Mississippi River, an area rich in Paleozoic fossil beds and glacial geological features. This location facilitates field trips and research projects that directly utilize the surrounding landscape, from the Rock Island Arsenal to the bluffs along the Great River Road.

Educational programs

The museum serves as a primary outreach arm for the Augustana College Geology Department, offering programs for K-12 school groups, Scout troops, and the general public. Regular activities include guided tours, hands-on "Discovery Box" sessions with real fossils and minerals, and weekend family workshops. The museum also hosts special lectures by visiting scientists and participates in campus-wide events like the Augustana Symposium Day. For college students, the museum provides opportunities for curatorial practice, exhibit design, and independent research projects utilizing the collections.

Notable specimens

Among the museum's most prominent specimens is a complete, 35-foot-long skeleton of the Cretaceous hadrosaur Edmontosaurus, discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. Another key display is a massive fluorite specimen from the Cave-in-Rock district of Illinois, notable for its cubic crystal form and purple color. The Ice Age collection features a skull of the giant beaver (*Castoroides ohioensis*) and bones from the American mastodon (*Mammut americanum*). The meteorite collection includes a slice of the Canyon Diablo meteorite, associated with Meteor Crater in Arizona.

Category:Museums in Illinois Category:Geology museums in the United States Category:Rock Island, Illinois Category:Augustana College (Illinois)