Menasha
museum will be solid spot to study geology
By Maureen Blaney Flietner
Special to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Last Updated: April 14, 2001
Menasha - Visitors will be able to learn about the depths of
the Earth as well as the far reaches of space when the official
state mineral museum takes its place just a few steps away from
the state's most high-tech planetarium.
Ground was broken recently for the new Weis Earth Science Museum
at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley. Officially "the
mineralogical museum of Wisconsin," it will be the only
one dedicated to the geologic history of Wisconsin.
The museum will be named for Len Weis, and his wife Donna, principal
donors. Weis, an associate professor emeritus of geology and
geography, taught at the school for 23 years, retiring 13 years
ago this June.
"We believe in doing this type
of thing, and had the opportunity to," said Weis about
the donation. "Our children are grown and supportive of
this. It's a tremendous hospitable environment. The UW is very
focused on serving local communities, and the opportunity just
came up."
The museum, he said, "will be geared to children from 3
to 103."
It will be only steps from the Barlow Planetarium, which attracts
about 40,000 visitors a year, with more than half of them schoolchildren.
State-of-the-art interactive learning tools and self-guided
tours are among the plans.
Paleontology, agriculture
As goals for the museum, Weis said, "We are very much
interested in illustrating the geology of the state in relation
to the history of the state." Mining began thousands
of years ago here, with American Indians who mined copper.
Lead also played a big role, being mined in the southwest
part of the state.
The museum, said Weis, also will incorporate information
about fossils, geology, paleontology and agriculture, since
soil is derived from rocks and organic matter.
"We have a dynamite director, Joanne Klussendorf, a
native Wisconsinite itching to get back. We endowed the director's
position so it is not a state budget item," said Weis.
"The position is guarded. Financial certainty helps."
F. John Barlow, whose collections are known worldwide, gave
the foundation money to purchase his former Wisconsin collection,
which had been sold. Another local private collector, Clyde
Stephenson, has donated his collection.
"And we have eyes on other collections," said Weis.
"We were very fortunate to have Richard Seidler, a retired
businessman and skilled craftsman, contribute his material,
time and labor to fashion handmade cabinets for the museum."
Dedication in 2002
The museum has grown from its original plan for 1,500 square
feet to 5,500 square feet. Completion is expected by the end
of September. After staff training and the setup of the exhibits,
the museum will be dedicated in spring 2002.
For now, the permanent exhibit items are under lock and key
at the school, according to Dave Hager, UW-Fox Valley public
relations officer.
Traveling and visiting exhibits also will be showcased. According
to Jim Perry, campus dean, the goal is to create a world-class
earth science museum.
The facility is being built as part of the existing campus
structure. Plans call for the renovation of two classrooms
adjacent to the planetarium and an addition to the south end
of the existing campus structure.
Maureen Blaney Flietner is a freelance writer/photographer
living in Calumet County, Wisconsin and can be reached at
erndog@execpc.com.
This article may not be reproduced by others without permission
of the author.
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