Over 130000 specimens. That’s a lot of rocks isn’t it? Welcome to the Cockburn Geological Museum. This isn’t just any museum. Legend says the building itself the Grant Institute was funded by the inventor of digestive biscuits. Think about that next time you dunk one.
The Cockburn Geological Museum is part of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences. It’s housed within the magnificent Grant Institute. The Institute was built between 1926 and 1932. Designed by famous Scottish architects. It showcases the University’s first collection of minerals fossils and instruments. Many pieces predate the building itself. Imagine the stories these rocks could tell.
The museum boasts an incredible range of items. From rare minerals to Neolithic tools. You’ll find Australian graptolites and Carboniferous corals. The collections are historical. Some specimens come from sites now inaccessible or depleted. Think of it as a geological time capsule.
One particularly exciting collection is the Lyell collection. This contains stone artefacts meteorites rocks and fossils. Collected by Sir Charles Lyell himself a giant in the field of geology. There’s also the Currie mineral collection and the Davidson mineral collection. Each holding unique and fascinating specimens.
The palaeontological collection is breathtaking. It includes over 10000 specimens. Fish reptiles trilobites brachiopods molluscs corals sponges. Even foraminifera and plants are represented. The Jehu-Campbell Collection of Highland Border Fossils is a highlight. So is the John Smith of Dalry Fossil Collection. The latter contains Dalradian graptolites brachiopods and Carboniferous fossils from Ayrshire. Even an original Whitby snakestone is here. A truly remarkable collection.
The Cockburn Museum isn’t stuck in the past though. It continues to grow. Newly studied specimens are archived adding to its already impressive holdings. The museum actively engages with the public. Events like Edinburgh Open Doors Day have drawn over 450 visitors in a single day. Interactive activities such as fossil handling and painting trilobites are popular with younger visitors. The Cockburn also takes part in initiatives like Explorathon’s Curiosity Forest.
So explore the Cockburn Geological Museum. Discover the fascinating world of geology. Uncover its secrets. You might even learn something new about digestive biscuits. You are now ready to enter this captivating world. Remember to make an appointment before coming.