LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Colburn Earth Science Museum

The best rock and mineral specimens from the Burnham Standish Colburn collection are housed in the Colburn Earth Science Museum. Students will enjoy the programs that are centered around this collection of fossils, gems, and North Carolina minerals.

Preview your trip on the web: Colburn Earth Science Museum

Learn more

  • National Museum of Natural History Visit the museum online. Here you can take a virtual tour and explore exhibits full of gigantic dinosaurs, precious gems and minerals, and Hawaiian treasures...and a lot more! Find out about the research conducted by the museum and link to many of their in-depth natural history websites.
  • Lesson plan: How sedimentary rocks are formed This Science NetLinks lesson briefly reviews the rock cycle in general and then focuses on sedimentary rocks. Students do a hands-on activity using mixed nuts to illustrate the layering of sedimentary rocks.
  • Lesson plan: Minerals and math Students will develop ways to create self-devised rules for classifying minerals and relate this information to scientific ways of classifying minerals according to their characteristics. They will then compile this information into a chart and convert parts of the chart into a line or bar graph.

Related pages

  • KidSenses Children's InterACTIVE Museum: The interactive exhibits at this children’s museum spark the imagination and kids have fun as they play and learn.
  • Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum: Gems, minerals, fossils, Indian artifacts, and much more can be found at the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum.
  • Museum of Life and Science: Packed with highly interactive exhibits, the Museum of Life and Science showcases aerospace, weather, geology, Carolina wildlife, farmyard, train rides, traveling exhibits, gift shops, cafĂ© and more culminating with the tropical Magic Wings Butterfly House and Bayer Crop Science Insectarium.

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The museum’s mission is to foster an appreciation of the Earth and its mineral resources through exhibits, educational programming, and the collection and care of specimens. Exhibits include minerals, gems, rocks, fluorescent minerals, and crystals.

Located in Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center on historic Pack Square in downtown Asheville, the museum is open Tuesday-Sunday. Group discounts are available. Call: 828-254-7162 in Buncombe County or 1-800-935-0204 outside of Buncombe County or e-mail: info@colburnmuseum.org for more information.

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