About the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum’s mission is to preserve natural diversity of life in Northeast Nebraska through maintaining and adding to our collections, through science education and outreach, and through actions to conserve and restore natural habitat in the region. Several individuals have used specimens from the museum to inspire and inform their art.
The museum houses more than 15,000 specimens of birds, mammals, invertebrates, plants, and fossils. Exhibits showcase the history of life on earth and house unique specimens such as a whooping crane, a grizzly bear, and a mammoth tusk. Interactive stations with digital microscopes are also accessible to visitors. The extensive bird, mammal, and plant collections are used by WSC students and researchers interested in the biological diversity of Northeast Nebraska. The museum was created by Jewell Schock, former zoologist at Wayne State College.
If you are interested in donating specimens, please contact Dr. Mark Hammer at 402-375-7043 or [email protected] for more information.
Museum location:
Carhart Science Building
1111 Gulliver Drive
Wayne, NE 68787
Museum contacts:
Dr. Mark Hammer
Museum Director
402-375-7329
[email protected]
Dr. Jillian Wormington
Zoological Curator
402-375-7045
[email protected]
Dr. Jason Price
Geological Curator
402-375-7343
[email protected]
Education and research
The Ecological Study Area (ESA) is located on campus and is used in environmental education for WSC students and K-12 students from regional schools. The ESA includes a wet meadow area to the west and the upland prairie to the north. Dr. Charles Maier planted many of the trees in this area and planted a small section of native tallgrass prairie plants. He also established the beds along the Wildcat Fitness Trail that showcase individual plants.
The museum partners with local K-12 school to experience hands-on learning. Kids can participate in fossil identification, junior microscopy, soil hydrology activities, fossil reconstruction, meteor impact, insect pinning, and aquatic macroinvertebrate study. Individuals may also borrow specimens for short term private or public use. The museum also sponsors, supports, or organizes biological monitoring activities in Northeast Nebraska including the biological monitoring of Ike’s Lake and biological asessment of South Logan Creek in Wayne.
A. Jewell Schock Museum of Natural History requests your memories and recollections of the land, farms, ranches, and city life of Northeast Nebraska. We are seeking pictures, film, or recordings that might help the museum create a database and a possible exhibit that tells the story of the landscape of Northeast Nebraska. We welcome all people and encourage you to participate in telling your story for others to hear today and in the future. Please contact Dr. Mark Hammer at 402-375-7043 or [email protected] for more information.
Life Sciences Department
