CollegeRank.net named the University of Wyoming Geological Museum the 12th most amazing college museum in the U.S. on a recently published top 50 list.
CollegeRank.net listed the museum’s fossil collection, accessibility and family-friendliness as determining factors in their ranking.
“Wyoming has always been a place of natural wonders,” the top 50 list reads, “It’s no surprise that the University of Wyoming has many treasures in store for visitors to its Geological Museum.”
Laura Vietti, collections manager at the Geological Museum, said the University should be proud of this recognition.
“We do have this very rich paleohistory,” Vietti said. “On top of that I think you can add the fact that it’s a really friendly, encouraging museum with no admission fees and a really easy and approachable museum.”
About 18,000 people visit the museum each year and about one-third of those visitors are children.
Tina Switzer, a geology major who works at the museum, said the displays, particularly the larger one, spark the imagination of the museum’s younger visitors.
“When kids come in, the first thing they see is the Apatosaurus,” Switzer said. “Their eyes get big and they go ‘woah.’ I think it’s great.”
The Apatosaurus, which towers over visitors as they walk through the front doors, is easily the largest display in the museum. But another guest favorite is “Big Al,” the most complete Allosaurus fossil ever found.
“I think visitors are very much attracted to the large, full dinosaur mounts that we have,” Vietti said. “It’s pretty rare for small museums and even more rare for university museums.”
The geological museum shares the “Most Amazing” list with collections from schools like Yale and Harvard. UW’s museum beat out Dartmouth College Hood Museum of Art, Princeton University Art Museum and University of Colorado’s Natural History Museum.
“I think visitors are surprised to see such a great little museum, like a hidden gem, at the university,” Vietti said. “I think the university is getting well-deserved recognition.”
