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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 1h

Will you help us? When Archie Walked is an art & story book we hope will inspire a new generation of scientists & leaders. Written by a museum educator with paleontologist input (thanks @ashpoust.bsky.social). Each gift brings closer to sharing the joy of science & natural history. nfund.org/Archie

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Last year 72 students interned/volunteered/worked with the museum. Hear from them about their experiences. Please consider a Glow Big Red gift to help our museum continue supporting student learning opportunities. go.unl.edu/unsmglowbigred #TuskerPower #Museum #NaturalHistory #Students #science

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

It's almost Glow Big Red Power Hour!💪❤️ The champion with the most gifts in the next hour (5-6pm) could help raise an additional $500 for the museum.🦣 Will you help Archie be the champ?🏆 Even a $5 gift counts! Glow All In for Archie! go.unl.edu/unsmglowbigred #GlowBigRed #GlowAllIn #MorrillHall

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Glow Big Red starts today. Will you help Morrill Hall keep sharing science in our community? Even $5 will help. Plus, gifts are being matched dollar for dollar thanks to our Friends. And we'll donate 2 passes to area non-profits for every $20 given. go.unl.edu/unsmglowbigred #tuskerpower #thanks

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

This #FossilFriday, we're excited to share about research UNSM curator Ash Poust contributed to proving the “Nanotyrannus,” a teacup variation of the “T. rex,” did exist!🦖 Poust and a team led by Christopher Griffin of Princeton University had their findings published in Science yesterday!🔬

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Happy #FossilFriday! In October, UNSM doubled our holdings of an unusual extinct species, Dasypus bellus, which literally translates to “beautiful armadillo.”✨ It was about twice the size of the modern nine-banded armadillo. These specimens are from 12-25 thousand years ago.🦴 #fossils #paleontology

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

This summer, we got to add new species to our weevil collection. The first step for finding weevils is finding their host plant.🌱 The fantastic-smelling, gray sagebrush is common in the Great Plains. From that, we got these two tiny gray weevil species, which were well hidden. #entomology

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Happy #FossilFriday! This tooth plate is from a giant fossil lungfish called Ceratodus. This specimen is thought to be from the Mesozoic Era and is estimated to be up to 13 feet long! Lungfish have been around for nearly 400 million years, and are one of the closest living relatives to tetrapods!🦎

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

This pale poison ivy leaf beetle feeds on many people’s least favorite plant.🌱 At under 2 mm, its damage is minimal, but every little bit helps. This summer was the first time this little beetle was collected in Nebraska.☀️ We’re happy to have them on board! #entomology #Nebraska

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Tonight is Morrill Hall-oween, so stop by Morrill Hall before your evening festivities!🦇 Wear a costume and come ready with a bag to trick-or-treat around the museum.🍭 Planetarium shows are FREE for this event only!🪐 No tricks, just treats, fossils, and fun. 🦣 Event: 4:30-8:30 pm

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

This (no common name for this beetle) = 1 of 20,000 species of darkling beetles who = beneficial decomposers of plant matter. The larvae = mealworms used as pet food/fishing bait. The species hadn't been found in Neb. until this specimen was collected from leaf litter this summer. #EntoTuesday

A large black beetle, with some ribbing texture on wings. The label at bottoms titles it as Asiopus minimus and includes the museum's catalog number for the beetle of UNSMe0403.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Happy #AnthroThursday! This ceramic pig bank is from around 1960, was collected in Sta Cruz de las Huertas, the Canary Islands, Spain. The Canaries have a unique connection to pigs, especially the Canarian black pig, the only native pig breed in the islands. They served as a vital source of income.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Happy #AnthroThursday! Geta (下駄) are traditional Japanese wooden sandals, believed to have originated in Southern China and been brought to Japan in the late Heian period. Once rice farming tools, they became popular in Japan's Edo period and are now valued for their craftsmanship and style.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

This miniature painting from modern-day Iran depicts hunters in traditional Persian attire hunting a lion. The image of the lion played a significant role in ancient Persian culture, revered as a symbol of strength and nobility. #anthropology #naturalhistory #museum #UNSM

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Happy #MuseumMonday. Recently, our Highway Salvage Preparator Jeremy was working on a 14 million year old dog skull/skeleton found in Boyd County, Nebr. While sifting through the sediment he found some tiny bones. Any guesses on what they could be? Stop by the Visible Lab this week to see. #fossils

A tiny glass tube holds the micro fragments of fossilized bones.

Highway Salvage Preparator Jeremy works on removing sediment from around the fossil dog skull.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Happy #FossilFriday! Pictured is a jaw fragment from a mosasaur, a large marine reptile. It was found in 85-million-year-old Cretaceous limestone along the Missouri River bluffs, which formed at the bottom of a shallow inland sea during that time.🏞️ #fossil #museum #UNSM #geology #naturalhistory

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Happy #AnthroThursday! This Japanese parasol, or higasa (日傘), was donated to the museum in 1978. Early parasols were large and non-collapsible, used by aristocrats and religious authorities to signify prestige and ward off evil spirits. #anthropology #Japan #japanese #parasol #history #museum #UNSM

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Happy #MuseumMonday! 🦏 Ashfall Fossil Beds Summer 2025 interns Cannon Dunker (left) & Jacob Wilson (right) carefully excavate 12-million-year-old ash at Ashfall Fossil Beds, revealing dog tracks, mud cracks, & signs of ancient water movement. 🐘 #Paleontology #fossils #intern #Summer #excavation

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Happy #FossilFriday! This summer, Curator Ashley Poust and colleague Dr. Robert Boessenecker collected fossils along the coast of California. These rocks, called the Purisima Formation, record an important time in the history of marine life, before the beginning of the Ice Age. #fossils #history

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Happy #AnthroThursday! This paper cutter, or letter opener, was collected in Japan before 1944. It features a bronze cast handle adorned with sea life motifs. Sea animals hold considerable significance in Japanese culture, owing to Japan's island geography and its intimate connection with the sea.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

UNSM curator @ashpoust.bsky.social is joining scientists from New Mexico, Michigan, Argentina & Paraguay on a collaborative research trip to Paraguay. They'll be researching the conditions under which bones might become #fossils. Follow along this summer to learn more! news.unm.edu/news/unm-hon...

news.unm.edu

UNM Honors College professor leads 2025 expedition to Paraguay to study fossilization in real time

Jason Moore, associate professor and chair of the Honors College at The University of New Mexico, is set to lead a team of researchers and students back to the Paraguayan Chaco in 2025 as part of the ...

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Reposted by Morrill Hall

Reading Raindoe @readingraindoe.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

This is Archie. He's too shy to tell you so himself, but he's the tallest mammoth on exhibit in the world. He doesn't like to brag. 13/10 Would snuggle him to the bone. #WeRateBones 🦣⚒️🧪#FossilFriday #LNK

"Archie" 14ft Colombian mammoth on display at UNL's Morrill Hall. Lincoln, Nebraska

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Welcome to the Curious Curator Café! ☕️ This newest addition to the Discovery Gift Shop is opening for Archie’s party on June 14th! 🎊 The café will be the perfect stop for a coffee before exploring or a treat after an eventful day at Morrill Hall.✨ #UNSM #cafe #grandopening #coffee #party #yum

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Happy #AnthroThursday! We are 10 DAYS away from the new weapons exhibit opening. Arms, Armor, and Anthropology is coming along, and we have an interesting fact for you: The oldest object in the exhibit is a spearhead from Ancient Egypt that dates to about 1550-1070 BCE❗ We can't wait to see you!✨

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Excited to share Lincoln Literacy is our summer CAP partner! Their mission is to strengthen the community by teaching English and a variety of literacy skills to people of all cultures. museum.unl.edu/membership #Museum #Naturalhistory #science #learning #literacy #community #fossils #Nebraska

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Discovery day camps have begun!☀️ The kids are having lots of fun with Astronomical Adventures and Elephants, Dinos, and Rhinos.🐘 There are still open spots for some of our upcoming camps.🌷 Learn more and register online today: museum.unl.edu/programs-eve... #summercamp #UNSM #Nebraska #space

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Last week, our Chief Preparator Carrie worked on a crane skeleton found in 1979 at Ashfall Fossil Beds. Carrie is working to stabilize the specimen by using modern archival materials. Want to see more amazingly preserved fossils like this? Visit Ashfall Fossil Beds this summer! Happy #FossilFriday.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Excited to share this #AnthroThursday the new weapons exhibit Arms, Armor & Anthropology opens June 14th! It's also Give to Lincoln Day. Gifts to the Friends of the State Museum help fund exciting exhibits like this one & other #science #learning opportunities. givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/f...

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Talk about a mammoth spring cleaning task....Archie has been washed and waxed and is ready for another year of greeting guests at Morrill Hall! Shoutout to our friends at Clearview Scanlon Cleaning for their help. #SpringCleaning #Mammoth #naturalhistory #museum #nebraska

Two men on a lift hose off one of Archie the bronze mammoth statue's legs.

Two men prepare wax and rags on a special lift up in the air near the tip of Archie the bronze mammoth statue's tusks and trunk.

Two men carefully wax Archie the bronze mammoth statue's trunk.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

It's a #TerrificTuesday, and we want to celebrate our Friends of the State Museum (FOSM) who have supported UNSM for 40 years! 🌷May 29 is Give to Lincoln Day, and your gift can support FOSM, Morrill Hall, and science education for people of all ages!🌎 Donate today: givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/f...

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

✨Discovery day camps are right around the corner!🌟 From 🔭astronomical celestial bodies 🪐to microscopic organisms 🔬, your explorer can discover the extraordinary things in our universe.🌎 🎉Check out the awesome camp options & get registered🎟️ today here: museum.unl.edu/programs-eve...

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

We are proud to be a #BlueStarMuseum again this summer, along with Ashfall Fossil Beds and the Trailside Museum. From now until Labor Day, active-duty military personnel and their families receive FREE admission. We can't wait for you to visit! #ThankYouMilitary #UNSM #FreeMuseumAccess #Museum

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

This #AnthroThursday, we have a heko obi that was donated in 2024 as a part of the Block Collection. An obi is a piece worn around the waist with a kimono. While traditionally worn by men and children, today women wear them in more casual settings. They are often shibori dyed, a Japanese tradition.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

The bees are back! The beehive is officially back on 4th floor. We've got #honey from the UNL Bee Lab & other #bee merch in our Gift Shop. All shop proceeds support #museum exhibits & programming. Museum admission not required to shop. #insects #entomology #nebraska #naturalhistory #shoplocal

Various bear shaped jars of honey sit on a shelf.

An assortment of bee themed merchandise, including beehive mancala, a bee glass, bee notebooks, bee's wax wrap, bee pin, and bee tape.

A beehive with glass panels to see the bees inside sits on a turning pedestal with signs next to it explaining the different roles of the various bees inside the hive.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Just a #museumMonday shoutout to 2 of our zoology students sharing their #research at the UNL Student Research Days earlier this month. We love supporting students in their career learning & research endeavors. Way to go Ava & Bailey. #naturalhistory #museum #museumcollections #science #nebraska

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Excited this #EarthDay to share Morrill Hall's new #energyefficiency: recently completed install of all new windows, installed new HVAC (also = better climate control for our specimens) & transitioned to all LED lighting. Last Earth Day this was a project still in process! #naturalhistory #museum

A look at Elephant Hall inside the museum. A large open hall with curved vaulted ceiling has a parade of mammoth fossils around the edges. A large mural of a herd of mammoths covers the entire back wall of the exhibit.

Archie the bronze statue of a Columbian mammoth stands outside Morrill Hall with his right front foot upraised ready to greet guests. The iconic sandstone pillars frame the main entryway between the three floors of brick and large multi-paned windows.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

This #MuseumMonday we want to say #congrats and #thanks to Wren Shawhan for an incredible 3 years. Wren has accepted a new role at another museum. Their contributions to UNSM are too many to list here. Suffice to say we’re sorry to lose them, but excited for the new adventures that await them.

Wren (left) works with other members of the museum anthropology department to place a beaded Native American saddle blanked on display.

Wren (second from right) poses in front of the opening exhibit panel for the National Geographic Photo Ark exhibit in Morrill Hall. Wren was one of four student interns who contributed to the exhibit.

Wren blows into a noise maker constructed of paper and cardboard tube with a young child to demonstrate the science of sound during an event at Morrill Hall.

Wren receives a gift from museum staff at a farewell party thrown in their honor.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

This #FossilFriday just sharing an article talking about new research on our sister site Ashfall Fossil Beds' #rhinos saying they were herd animals. www.uc.edu/news/article... Check out the scientific article here: www.nature.com/articles/s41... #fossils #museum #naturalhistory #nebraska

uc.edu

Prehistoric rhinos lived in mega-herds

Rhinos that flourished across much of North America 12 million years ago gathered in huge herds, according to a new study by the University of Cincinnati.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

This pair of child's tabi #socks was donated in 2024. The separated toe design allows wearing with thong style sandals like geta/zori. However, the stains & condition of this pair suggest the young wearer likely wore them outside on their own. #museum #Anthropology #naturalhistory #AnthroThursday

A close up of the tabi sock bottom shows a section for the big toe and section for the smaller toes. Some dirt and wear is visible at the tips of the sock.

The semi-circle fasteners on the back of the tabi sock are visible, with a 20 embossed on one, indicating 20cm, the size of the sock.

A top view of the pair of tabi socks. They are white in color, with semi circle clasps just visible at the top of the pair.

The bottom of the tabi sock is visible, with significant dirt staining on the heel and ball of the foot area of the sock.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

DYK some bats are pollinators? Check out this exhibit at our sister site Trailside Museum in Crawford, NE. Explore the different types of creatures that act as pollinators (including bats!) and the plants they interact with. #nationalbatappreciationday #pollinators #bats #nebraska #naturalhistory

A light blue display sign says "Operation Pollination" with a description of the exhibit nearby where visitors can engage in hands-on activities exploring the lives of different creatures that pollinate plants. A display table is visible behind the sign featuring a magnet wall, photos, descriptions and cutouts of different pollinators and the plants they interact with. A large mural of two mammoths is visible in the background.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Today was a lot of fun. We had more than 275 students and teachers visit for in-person field trips. What a #WonderfulWednesday. #museum #naturalhistory #science #scienceisfun

Junior high students join a UNSM educator as they look down on a case containing a jaw of a mosasaur. A mural of underwater marine reptiles including mosasaurs and plesiosaurs covers the wall behind them.

Students learn about paleontology by visiting with a museum researcher through a sliding glass window overlooking a working "Visible Lab" on the museum's 4th floor. A paleontologist holds up a small fossil embedded in rock the size of a brick waiting to be excavated.

A young student examines ash samples under a microscope slide to learn about the geology and rock layers that preserve different fossils in the display about Ashfall Fossil Beds.

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Morrill Hall @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Happy #EntoTuesday. Today UNSM's #entomology curator gave museum staff a personal tour of "Goliaths," the new exhibit featuring #beetles in Morrill Hall. It's now open on the 3rd floor. Come check it out for yourself! #FlowerChafers #Museum #nebraska #Naturalhistory

A variety of large goliath beetles pinned inside a display case. Beetles range from tan and black, to brown variegated, some black and white flecked, and some bright green. They are 1" to over 3" long.

3D printed beetle heads demonstrate what the horns on four different beetles looked like. An example of the beetle sits on the bottom of the display case below each model head.

Display cases on the wall show a variety of beetles and insects with magnifying glasses to see them more closely, and a TV monitor with a short video discussing the role of beetles in the environment.

Museum staff stand outside the entrance of the new "Goliaths" exhibit, where UNSM entomology curator MJ Paulsen discusses the initial vision of the exhibit prior to leading staff on a tour.

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