Mace Brown Museum of Natural History and its collection

Mace Brown Museum of Natural History
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The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is a public natural history museum situated on the campus of The College of Charleston, a public liberal arts college in Charleston, South Carolina. It provides a unique resource for teaching and internationally respected research activities conducted at The College of Charleston.

Collection of the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

Boasting a collection of over 30,000 vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, the museum focuses on the paleontology of the South Carolina Lowcountry. The ‘core’ of the museum's collection is a large assemblage of marine vertebrate fossils from the Oligocene epoch, with an emphasis on unusually well preserved early dolphins and early baleen whales.

Admission to the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

Admission to the museum is free, and donations are welcome. There is no admission; however, donations are appreciated.

Exhibits at the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

Exhibits include a fossil plant display, sloths of the southeast, and elephants of South Carolina. An entire exhibit is dedicated to the evolution of cetaceans, emphasizing the evolution of baleen, echolocation, the evolution of the flipper, and telescoping: the migration of the nose into the blowhole onto the top of the head.

Recent Additions to the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

In 2020 casts of skulls of a Triceratops and a Tyrannosaurus were added. The Tyrannosaurus is a cast of the T. rex named "Scotty," the largest T. rex ever discovered. The Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus were joined by Tylosaurus.

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Nature & Natural History Nature & Natural History Animals Geology

Mace Brown Museum of Natural History
Calhoun Street 202
SC 29401 Charleston
South Carolina

Visitor information Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

Opening hours

Monday
11:00 – 16:00
Tuesday
11:00 – 16:00
Wednesday Closed
Thursday
11:00 – 16:00
Friday
11:00 – 16:00
Saturday
11:00 – 16:00
Sunday
11:00 – 16:00

Admission

0+Free

Donations are welcome!

Facilities

Wheelchair accessible

Location & Map

Calhoun Street 202, Charleston

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Exhibitions

No exhibitions in Mace Brown Museum of Natural History have been found.

Mace Brown Museum of Natural History Reviews

Mace Brown Museum of Natural History has 1 rating.

  • Apollo's Insights AI-Generated

    The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History in Charleston offers visitors an engaging look at prehistoric life and geological history. Located on the College of Charleston campus, this small but well-curated museum houses an impressive collection of fossils and minerals.

    Visitors often praise the museum's diverse array of exhibits, which include dinosaur bones, ancient marine life, and even a cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull. The specimens are well-presented with informative labels, making it easy for both adults and children to learn about natural history.

    One of the highlights frequently mentioned is the megalodon jaw reconstruction, which gives a striking visual representation of the ancient shark's size. The museum also features a variety of other prehistoric marine life fossils, reflecting the rich paleontological history of the Charleston area.

    While the museum's compact size allows for a quick visit, some visitors note that this can also be a limitation, as they wish there was more to see. However, the free admission is widely appreciated, making it an accessible educational experience for families and students.

    The staff, often including student docents, are generally described as knowledgeable and passionate, enhancing the visitor experience with their insights. However, some reviewers mention that guided tours or more interactive elements could further improve the experience.

    Overall, the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History provides a solid educational experience, especially for those interested in paleontology and geology. Its convenient location and free admission make it a worthwhile stop for visitors to Charleston, though those expecting a large, comprehensive natural history museum might find it somewhat limited in scope.

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  • Aggregated rating

    This rating is based on the rating of this museum on several other platforms.

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