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Orton Geological Museum
155 Oval Dr S, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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Ph
Review №1

Giant dinosaur to greet you right when you walk in the door!! Lol! Awesome. Lots of great info about regular rocks, asteroids, and other normal stuff too.

To
Review №2

This is a great place to stop in if you are in the area. I took my 12 year old who is really into rocks, minerals and fossils and he loved it. They have a great library across the hall as well.

Sa
Review №3

I wish it were a little larger, but what a fun way to spend a few hours.

Ky
Review №4

Not the biggest one the fanciest museum, but still interesting nonetheless. It is free so there is no arguing with that. They have an area where you can look at special rocks under ultraviolet light. They have small plush animals for sale and they are a great unique gift. The man behind the counter was very friendly.

Du
Review №5

Great place to see fossils and minerals. My 8 yr old enjoyed it. It is a part of an OSU education building. Its a small museum but it has a lot of cool stuff. The building its in kinda looks like a castle which was also cool.

Ch
Review №6

Went to college here. Love this this place. Cute little museum packed with many fun displays.

Ma
Review №7

Great little museum of geology. There are some great fossils and displays on various geological formations. Definitely worth a visit if youre in the area.

Ha
Review №8

Nice geological museum, little but so interesting. I recommend to visit it. No cost admission, but I recommend to make a donation.

Ma
Review №9

Its small and old. Yet full of a weird charm that keeps me coming back. Also lots of cool rocks and fossils

Em
Review №10

I went with a friend and we had a great time. Its a relaxed environment. The exhibits were full of interesting fossils organized by time period. My favorite part was the rock exhibit and, at the end, we purchased a couple things, including a rocks and minerals themed deck of playing cards, some amethyst and some chrysocolla.

Vi
Review №11

Great little museum to spend around an hour in when on campus. There are around 5-6 dinosaur fossils and several small fossils and minerals across many geological eons to explore. A geological library is also present next to it. A small store too.

Be
Review №12

Although the museum in this building is a little bit small, I thought the pieces were quite interesting. The library is spacious although not as big as other libraries on campus. Decent place to visit, I would say.

Ru
Review №13

Little smaller than I expected it to be but still a great museum. The thing that was most fascinating was the rocks/minerals that they had, especially the fluorescent ones.

Gr
Review №14

Great ! The director of the museum was so helpful

Ca
Review №15

Cool place. A decent bit of stuff for such a small place.

Co
Review №16

I loved this place. If youre ever bored and in Columbus, swing by the campus. This place is free and theres a comic museum/library nearby that is also free. It was hard to find, the website says its at 155 S. Oval Mall and Google says its on the other side of the oval. I think we found it at 155 S Oval, its close to a few parking garages. Just look for the steeple, theres a picture of it on the website.Really awesome museum, kids would adore this place. Im saddened that they no longer have the mastodon, that would have been amazing. The giant prehistoric sloth skeleton is really cool though, its something you wouldnt expect. They have meteorites and fossils, a really cool collection of rocks and minerals, bones. They have a gift shop, but no one was behind the counter when we got there. I only wish that we had more time to really take in everything. It makes me want to go to more museums, I cant believe how many interesting things they had in such a small area.

Ch
Review №17

This museum is basically one room in a historical university building, with common geological materials such as fossils, rocks and minerals. Very traditional ways of displaying - almost all objects are behind glass cases, with no special lighting (save for one exhibit on fluorescent objects) and little interactive features. And there is no seating inside. But the interpretative labels are informative, and be sure to check out the little gift shop - it has some very interesting items. Worth a stop if you happen to be in campus.

Ro
Review №18

Good local museum where you can meet Zeke the dinosaur. Free admission and it takes about half an hour to see everything. Best place in central Ohio to take children to see dinosaur bones.

El
Review №19

It is really a fun place to visit while on campus!

Br
Review №20

This place was very neat to my kids. Wish the shop was open so we could buy some merch. Seems like the curator had surgery so no shop. Thats a good enough excuse for me. Well be back some day for sure. Oh, and make sure to check out the florescent minerals display hiding in the back.

Da
Review №21

For a small compact space this packed a lot of interesting items. From dinosaur skeletons to fossils to minerals.

Jo
Review №22

Very neat display tucked away in a classic university building. Old school cool so all items easy to view and see. If you bring a child be ready to police him/her. Most items simply have a do not touch sign but are out in open. Wonderful charm that we dont want to lose. You dont see displays like this very often.

Ty
Review №23

Wonderful mueseum and library, absolutely gorgeous exterior, great hidden study spots for students

Fa
Review №24

This is a nice museum with real specimens of minerals and fossils from Ohio. Very educative.

Da
Review №25

This place is fantastic, and the Curator is one of a kind!!!

Mi
Review №26

Really interesting displays, with a lot of detail. Not for the casual observer but more for scientists or geologic enthusiasts.

De
Review №27

My nephew loves the museum and gift shop, we go every year. Call to be sure the gift shop is open, the museum is open regular university hours, 8-5 ish

Su
Review №28

Great (and free) place to observe fossils

Te
Review №29

Small in size, but very detailed and interesting museum! Highlights of geography from the Ohio region, and and awesome collection of fossils and rocks!

Jo
Review №30

Very interesting, small. Fossils. Minerals! Shop. Geological Maps. Worth Finding: on (South?) Oval, Orton Hall?

De
Review №31

Very cool museum but could use an update (which I hear is in the works)! Amazing dinosuar in the entryway

La
Review №32

Some really cool fossils. Its free and self-guided.

La
Review №33

Great small museum with lots to see. This is a small museum.

Gr
Review №34

Excellent and free small Geo museum

Jo
Review №35

Collection ShowcaseThe Orton Geological Museum has a large exhibit case on the sixth floor of OSU’s Thompson (Main) Library that changes about twice a year. The current exhibit is:“Famous Fossil Sites of the World” with fossils from the Crato Formation (Cretaceous, Argentina), Green River Formation (Eocene, Wyoming), Hunsrück Slate (Devonian, Germany), Linton (Pennsylvanian, Ohio), Mazon Creek (Pennsylvanian, Illinois), Messel (Eocene, Germany), Niobrara (Cretaceous, Kansas), Rancho La Brea (Pleistocene, California), Solnhofen Limestone (Jurassic, Germany) and the White River Badlands (Oligocene, Nebraska).Telling Meteorites from WrongsCollection Showcase

Sa
Review №36

Its very small, but the various items were really interesting to look at.

Kr
Review №37

Interesting look into Ohio’s geological background, neat displays and a dinosaur Skeleton!

Ky
Review №38

Super neato UV rocks here!

Da
Review №39

Really cool fossils and plenty of information

Am
Review №40

If you love stones, you rock!

Pa
Review №41

Amazing !!!

Te
Review №42

Wonderful experience for me and my kids.

D
Review №43

Small but a lot to look at!

Gi
Review №44

A small place full of information!!!!

He
Review №45

Very small exhibit. Needs updated.

Te
Review №46

Nice place

Ms
Review №47

Interesting

Vi
Review №48

Great place

Ia
Review №49

Giant. Sloth.

Te
Review №50

Loved it!

Information
100 Photos
50 Comments
4.5 Rating
  • Address:155 Oval Dr S, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
  • Site:https://ortongeologicalmuseum.osu.edu/
  • Phone:+1 614-292-6896
Categories
  • Natural history museum
  • Archaeological museum
  • Tourist attraction
Working hours
  • Monday:9am–5pm
  • Tuesday:9am–5pm
  • Wednesday:Closed
  • Thursday:Closed
  • Friday:9am–5pm
  • Saturday:9am–5pm
  • Sunday:9am–5pm
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet:Yes
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
  • Restaurant:No
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