Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center
The Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center (BPCRC) at the Ohio State University is recognized internationally as a leader in polar and alpine research. BPCRC houses faculty from the School of Earth Sciences and the Department of Geography, as well as in house researchers. The Center is named in honor of Admiral Richard E. Byrd, America's most famous polar explorer. There are eight research groups at BPCRC, along with a Library, Archival Program, and the US Polar Rock Repository. Research at the Center focuses on the role of cold regions in the Earth's overall climate system, and encompasses geological sciences, geochemistry, glaciology, paleoclimatology, meteorology, remote sensing, ocean dynamics, and the history of polar exploration.
Orton Hall
One of the oldest remaining buildings on campus, Orton Hall opened in 1893 and is named after Dr. Edward Orton, Sr. who was Ohio State's first president, Professor of Geology 1873-1899, and Ohio's State Geologist from 1882 until his death in 1899. Orton Hall is a tribute to this man's dedicated service towards the understanding of the geology of Ohio. From the clay tiles in the entrance hall to its walls and foundations, Orton Hall is built of forty different Ohio building stones. In the outside walls, these stones are laid in stratigraphic order according to their relative positions in Ohio's bedrock and the capitals of the numbered columns in the entrance hall contain carvings of fossils. The bell tower was dedicated in 1915 and contains 25,000 pounds of bells that can be heard regularly tolling across campus in the key of E flat. Encircling the top of the tower are 24 columns with gargoyle-like figures which are restorations of fossil animals. Because of its unique architectural features, which have made it a campus landmark, Orton Hall has been entered into the National Register of Historic Places. It presently contains the Orton Geological Museum, the Orton Geological Library, and School of Earth Sciences research laboratories.
Orton Memorial Library of Geology
Orton Memorial Library of Geology was formally dedicated on October 16, 1920, in memory of Edward Francis Baxter Orton (1829-1899). The library houses titles relevant to various aspects of geology, geography, polar studies, and soils. The map collection includes topographic and geologic maps from the US and other areas of the world. The OSU Library System provides access to these materials plus a large number of electronic resources (i.e., journals, books, database searches). Orton Library also has public computers, a laser printer, photocopier/scanner, and VCR/DVD players available for patrons' use.
Orton Geological Museum
The Orton Geological Museum is located in historic Orton Hall on the Main Campus of The Ohio State University. Completed in 1893, both the building and the museum are named for Edward Orton Senior, the first president of the university. Current exhibits feature the geologic history of Ohio plus fossils and minerals from all over the world. Among the exhibits are actual mammoth and mastodon teeth, a full-sized replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull, a fluorescent mineral booth and meteorites. The centerpiece of the exhibit hall is the mounted skeleton of a giant ground sloth, one of four found in the state.
The Museum Store has models, minerals, fossils, books, posters, and many dinosaur items for sale. Museum hours are 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday, but special arrangements can be made to have the Museum open at other hours. Services include guided tours of the exhibit hall for schools and other groups, talks on geological subjects, and the identification of rocks, minerals, fossils and bones (but not artifacts). There is no fee for admission to the Museum or for any of our services. For more information or to schedule a talk or tour call (614) 292-6896 or contact the museum's curator, Dale Gnidovec.