Geology Hall New Brunswick, NJ
Geology Hall in New Brunswick, NJ is located in the historic Queens Campus area of Rutgers, New Jersey’s State University. As part of the campus, Geology Hall is included on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places along with the National Register of Historic Places since 1973. The process for the Hall started back in 1864 when Rutgers was selected as New Jersey’s one and only land-grant college. This, in turn, helped the school widen its curriculum to agriculture and science.
Geology Hall History
After the grant, the president of Rutgers, William Henry Campbell, raised additional funds to build a new building to make way for the expansion. Geology Hall was as a result built and designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and the construction took place in 1872.
George Hammell Cook was a professor of chemistry and natural science who played a big role in helping the state decide Rutgers was the right college to win the grant, instead of what we know today as Princeton University. Cook had been appointed state geologist in 1864 and went on to become the college’s vice president. Under that new grant, Cook expanded his research regarding geology and agriculture.
A few years later and the college’s board decided to build the building we know as Geology Hall. Rutgers was celebrating its centennial anniversary and Campbell, as previously mentioned, decided to fundraise to acquire more donations from the alumni and supporters to support the new programs the school wanted to include.
The previously mentioned Hardenbergh was at the time a new architect from New Brunswick, New Jersey and he was granted the project through family connections. In fact, his great-great-grandfather Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh was the University’s first presidents and a founder.
The Geology Museum
Today, the Geology Hall now houses administrative offices along with the expansive geological museum. It houses the oldest collegiate geology collection in the United States and was originally founded by Rutgers professor and geologist George Hammel Cook. Its exhibits include many varieties of natural history found in New Jersey including fluorescent zinc minerals, a mastodon skeleton from Salem County, a dinosaur trackway and an Egyptian era mummy.
The museum is located on the second floor of the building. You can visit today through free tours in small groups or school events, and the general public as well. The collection is a small portion of what is on display, but you can explore exhibits that include geology, natural history, paleontology, and anthropology. The core focus of the museum is the natural history of New Jersey.
Visit the Geology Hall for yourself if you live in New Brunswick New Jersey, or if you’re just looking to explore the campus. It’s a building full of history.
Geology Hall History
After the grant, the president of Rutgers, William Henry Campbell, raised additional funds to build a new building to make way for the expansion. Geology Hall was as a result built and designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and the construction took place in 1872.
George Hammell Cook was a professor of chemistry and natural science who played a big role in helping the state decide Rutgers was the right college to win the grant, instead of what we know today as Princeton University. Cook had been appointed state geologist in 1864 and went on to become the college’s vice president. Under that new grant, Cook expanded his research regarding geology and agriculture.
A few years later and the college’s board decided to build the building we know as Geology Hall. Rutgers was celebrating its centennial anniversary and Campbell, as previously mentioned, decided to fundraise to acquire more donations from the alumni and supporters to support the new programs the school wanted to include.
The previously mentioned Hardenbergh was at the time a new architect from New Brunswick, New Jersey and he was granted the project through family connections. In fact, his great-great-grandfather Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh was the University’s first presidents and a founder.
The Geology Museum
Today, the Geology Hall now houses administrative offices along with the expansive geological museum. It houses the oldest collegiate geology collection in the United States and was originally founded by Rutgers professor and geologist George Hammel Cook. Its exhibits include many varieties of natural history found in New Jersey including fluorescent zinc minerals, a mastodon skeleton from Salem County, a dinosaur trackway and an Egyptian era mummy.
The museum is located on the second floor of the building. You can visit today through free tours in small groups or school events, and the general public as well. The collection is a small portion of what is on display, but you can explore exhibits that include geology, natural history, paleontology, and anthropology. The core focus of the museum is the natural history of New Jersey.
Visit the Geology Hall for yourself if you live in New Brunswick New Jersey, or if you’re just looking to explore the campus. It’s a building full of history.