The current home of the Univeristy of Nebraska Museum of Natural Science is here in Morrill Hall. Build specifically to house and display to the public, Morrill Hall's construction owes mainly to the personal efforts of two men: Erwin H. Barbour and Charles H. Morrill. Professor Barbour toured museums around the United States and Europe, and brought what he saw back to Nebraska. Charles Morrill, a self-made man of wealth and Barbour's friend, used his politcal and financial power to support their mutual dream of a public museum. Nearly every school child in Nebraska has enjoyed a field trip to Morrill Hall and retains fond memories of "Elephant Hall" on the main floor. The building was completed and opened to the public in 1927, with Charles Morrill in attendance at the dedication.
Scanned by University of Nebraska Archives and Special Collections
The Museum Building, despite it's name, was never solely housed the Natural Science collection, but was shared with classrooms and other departments. The building was originally intended to be the first wing of a building eventually three times it's size. The remainder of the building was never completed.
Regent and fried to Nebraska University from the beginnings, Charles Morrill had a lifelong friendship and shared interest in paleology and archaeology with Professor Erwin Barbour. Morrill wielded great political respect within the University, Nebraska, and United States governments. His cousin was the author of the Morrill Land Grant Act which made the foundation of the University of Nebraska possible. Fittingly, the current Museum of Natural Science is housed in a building named in his honor and memory.
Scanned 01 May 2008
Standing between a mounted Tetrabelodon osborni leg on the right and Elephas indicus leg on the left, Erwin H. Barbour looks at the T. osborni leg. Both legs are mounted on wooden bases and have vertical supports. The setting is indoors in front of a broad doorway.
date 1915
Glass Plate
Image courtesy of University of Nebraska Archives and Special Collections
Primarily built as the Industrial Arts building, the first Nebraska Hall also became home to the display portion of the Natural Science Collection as well as providing storage.
Image digitized from a portrait of Charles Bessey, University of Nebraska Special Archives
Scanned 30 April 2008
No date or notes associated with original image
Image digitized from a portrait of Samuel Aughey, University of Nebraska Special Archives
Scanned 30 April 2008
No date or notes associated with original image
University Hall was the first home of the collection which would become the University Museum, but also classrooms and the university library and administrative offices.
