By NICK VILLALOBOS, Editor in Chief
It is considered by some to be the cultural hub of the Northwestern Alva campus.
With numerous exhibits that vary from civil war muskets, to Oklahoma marine life, the museum of natural history on the second floor of Jesse Dunn is not a place for old, outdated artifacts, but instead a place for students to step outside of their comfort zone and walk into the pages of a history, or biology book.
The museum has been a piece of the university for numerous years, and throughout it’s time of existence, it has grown substantially with the additions of various exhibits, some of which include mounted birds and mammals, Pleistocene fossils, and geological, anthropological, archeological and natural history displays, as well as historical photographs and articles dealing with the university and northwestern Oklahoma.
Dr. Steven Thompson and Dr. Aaron Place oversee the operations of museum, and student assistant’s and museum docent’s Tanner Smith and Amanda Harding, help in the maintenance of the area.
“The museum is just a really neat place,” Thompson said. “I really enjoy the diversity that we have with the different things within the museum.”
Thompson said one unique thing that the museum has is that unlike the other larger museums around the state, the Northwestern Natural History museum allows students with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the exhibits.
The museum does not see much participation from students throughout the week, according to Thompson and Smith, but they believe that with the continuation of adding new exhibits and more publicity, the museum will become a popular place for college students to visit on campus.
In addition, Thompson said area high schools usually stop to visit the museum with its students because it gives the students a new perspective to what Oklahoma has to offer.
The museum is considered to be the second oldest natural history museum in Oklahoma, just behind that of the Sam Noble museum in Oklahoma City.
“It has a really nice concentration of things about northwestern Oklahoma,” Thompson said. “It also features a weird variety of animals on display as well, which provides a great level of uniqueness.”
Both Smith and Thompson encouraged students to visit the museum when they are available because not only does it provide an opportunity to step away from their studies, but it provides them with a new look into the history of their university as well.
“The museum will provide an experience for students that they probably wouldn’t find elsewhere as it would bring them closer to the natural world,” Smith said.
Office hours for this semester are 1-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
Break out box:
For more information call the museum at 580-327-8513, or museum directors Dr. Steven Thompson at 580-327-8566 or Dr. Aaron Place at 580-327-8673.