Bob Campbell Geology Museum

Introduction

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The Bob Campbell Geology Museum at Clemson University is located in the South Carolina Botanical Garden and features over 10,000 rocks, minerals, fossils, artifacts, and lapidary. In addition to the artifacts and exhibits, the museum also hosts various adult education classes, children’s programs, jewelry making classes, nature walks, fossil collecting walks, and tours of the museum.

Images

The Bob Campbell Geology Museum is open to the public and offers exhibits drawn from its collection of minerals, rocks, and fossils.

Backstory and Context

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The geology museum began with only a small collection that was housed in the school’s geology department in Brackett Hall. The department soon began to amass a larger collection from donations and alumni. In 1990, Clemson’s geology department received its first donation from Dr. Paul Benson III, who bestowed his extensive collection of gemstones and other minerals to the university. Mr. Robert Schabilion donated a collection of minerals and fossils, as well as rough material he wanted to be given to children. The department then received a donation of gems from Mrs. Kermit Watson and a collection of gems, minerals, and fossils from Mr. Bob Campbell. In 1996, Campbell and his wife vowed to help construct a building for the housing of a museum, which officially opened in 1998. The museum currently receives its specimens and artifacts from donations and by visiting field sites.

Sources

Clemson University's Campbell Geology Museum. Clemson Public Service and Agriculture. Accessed April 27, 2017. http://www.clemson.edu/public/geomuseum/.