Cambridge Natural History Museum will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday, August 10th, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Located at 132 W Center Street, Cambridge, IL, the museum will showcase a captivating collection of fossils, minerals, and Native American artifacts, all curated by a remarkable young paleontologist. Guests will even have a chance to touch a real dinosaur fossil.
Anderson Taylor, a 9 year-old Cambridge resident, is very excited to see his dream of opening a museum come true. “I want to teach other kids, as well as adults who aren’t able to go to museums in larger cities, about natural history and prehistoric life”, he says.
The idea to open a museum has been on Anderson’s mind for about two years. “Visiting the Staffin Dinosaur Museum in Scotland really inspired me to open my own museum. The owner of that museum started it when he was a teenager. It isn’t big or fancy like what most people think of when they think of inspiring museums, but it contains many important and exciting fossils and I really enjoyed talking to and learning from the owner, who discovered all of the pieces I was looking at”, says Anderson.
Anderson is a lifelong student of paleontology and has been collecting and studying fossils for as long as he can remember. His study of fossils has brought him around the world. He has traveled to observe evidence of ancient life as far as the Isle of Skye in Scotland and the Morrison Formation in Colorado. For a school project he portrayed Barnum Brown, the paleontologist who discovered the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and he has hosted several public presentations on prehistoric life in Illinois and beyond. Anderson and his brother, Miles, also host a podcast on local history, called “Tot Cast”.
Anderson says, “Opening the museum has been a lot of work and I would not be able to do this without help from family, friends, the community, and support from the Village of Cambridge. Much of what you see at the museum has been generously donated by friends, family, and strangers.”
The grand opening event will feature light refreshments and a special interactive dig activity for children, providing a fun and educational experience. Young visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a mock excavation and take home a souvenir from their dig.
Join us for this exciting community event as we celebrate the fusion of youthful enthusiasm and scientific discovery. The Cambridge Natural History Museum hopes to be a vibrant addition to our town’s cultural landscape, showcasing the wonders of our natural and historical heritage.
***Courtesy of the Cambridge Natural History Museum***
