Division of Geology and Land Survey

Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology
Minerals, rocks, fossils, mammoth tusks, maps and more!

Visit us in Rolla at 111 Fairgrounds Road

In addition to minerals, rocks, fossils, mammoth tusks and maps, numerous historic items used throughout the long history of the division are now on display for the first time. The museum boasts a computer program that depicts earthquake occurrences in the New Madrid Seismic Zone as well as worldwide.  Tools that were used by staff when the division was created nearly 160 years ago are on display, along with information about past state geologists. Self-guided tours are available to the public weekdays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is free!

 

Missouri's Official Dinosaur -- The museum boasts a small cast of the state dinosaur, Hypsibema missouriense.  Hypsibema missouriense was first discovered in 1942 when Dan Stewart, one of our geologists was working near the town of Glen Allen in Bollinger County.  Dan was investigating clay deposits in the area when a local family told him about clay they had encountered in a recently dug well.  When Dan arrived at the location, he was shown several bones that had been found in the clay.  These bones were sold to the Smithsonian but it was not until the 1980s that the dinosaur was correctly identified as a hadrosaur or “duck billed” dinosaur.  The herbivore (a plant eating dinosaur) had jaws that contained more than 1,000 teeth. Hypsibema had evolved specialized teeth to handle the tough, fibrous vegetation of the time.  Hypsibema lived in Missouri during the late Cretaceous period around 75 million years ago and became the state’s official dinosaur on July 9, 2004.  Learn more about the official state dinosaur from the Bollinger County Museum of Natural History website.  Other state symbols may be found on the Secretary of State’s website. 

The Active Earth Display Kiosk -- stop by and see this special exhibit! This new, interactive earthquake exhibit will undoubtedly, pique the interest of children and adults interested in learning about our active earth.

The Active Earth Display kiosk is an interactive computer-based educational tool that provides information about plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.  The AED kiosk is being made available through Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), a university consortium sponsored by the National Science Foundation that is dedicated to the operation of scientific facilities for the acquisition, management, and distribution of freely available seismic data. Read the news release.  Info about earthquakes in Missouri.

 

For a sneak peek at one of the seismic offerings, visit this IRIS website:  Live Earthquakes Demo

The museum also provides a background for division staff to share with both adults and children the importance of our state's natural resources and highlights the fossils, rocks and minerals that are found in our state.

The museum also identifies the role that the division plays in the management and protection of these resources.  The museum is named for Edward L. Clark, State Geologist from 1944 to 1955. 

Want to delight your favorite rock enthusiast?  Consider giving a Missouri Rock and Mineral Set. Accompanying the set is a 16-page, full-color booklet that describes each rock and mineral and its uses. This set is available for purchase when visiting the museum (or online).  Learn more about this and other educational items from the Missouri Geology Store.

Self-guided tours are available to the public weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free! Closed Holidays.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geology and Land Survey
111 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla
Phone 573-368-2100