Contact Info

195 Rankin Science
572 Rivers Street
Boone, NC
28608
(828) 262-3049
FAX: (828) 262-6503

Chairperson:
Dr. Johnny A. Waters
watersja@appstate.edu

General Questions:
Geology Webmaster

The F. Kenneth and Marjorie J. McKinney Geology Teaching Museum

New Wing of Rankin Science Complex (geology & microscopy floor)

History of the McKinney Museum

The museum was founded in 1998 with primary purpose of supplementing the teaching mission of the department.  In addition, the museum is used as the focal point for public outreach from the department. The museum was named in honor of Dr. F. Kenneth McKinney, Emeritus Professor of Geology and Mrs. Marjory McKinney, former  departmental Laboratory Manager.  During their time at Appalachian, the McKinney's personal commitment to geological  education and outreach was accomplished without the aid of a formal museum. Much of their original work on collections, exhibits and programs have served as the starting point for the current museum.

The physical exhibit space for the museum is of modest size, but of prominent location, one room of ~1,200 sq. ft, plus hallway space throughout the department.  The museum posses a number of new, professional quality, lighted show cases, and a large number of other show cases. The broader resources of the department are available to achieve the mission of the museum as well as access to university machine, electrical and carpentry shops. Collections and a framework of museum exhibits currently exist, but the new coordinator will have the opportunity, and expectation of refining and expanding these exhibits.

The department holds curated collections of paleontology, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, minerals & gems, and economic geology.  Although the primary purpose of the collection is for use in upper-level specialty courses, much of the collection is of research quality, and some of it  represents suites from important localities that are no longer accessible for collection.

In the spring of 2005, the department was given permission to search for a director for the McKinney museum. After interviewing several outstanding candidates, the position was offered to and accepted by Dr. Andrew B. Heckert to start in the fall of 2005. With the opening of the new building, Rankin Science South, in August, Dr. Heckert is preparing the space and exhibits for the grand opening.

McKinney Geology Teaching Museum - Goals

1. Departmental:
• Develop exhibits in museum and adjacent hallways that are integrated with selected introductory lab exercises.
• Develop exhibits that serve as a resource for selected upper level courses.
• Maintain dynamic exhibits that draw attention to current events in geologic news (e.g. explanation of recent Mt. St. Helen's activity).


2. Public Outreach:
• Develop programs for public groups (school, social, educational).
• Develop contacts and interaction with regional museums such as:
• Appalachian Cultural Museum, Boone, NC
• Turchin Museum for the Visual Arts, Boone, NC
• Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, Linville, NC
• Museum of North Carolina Minerals, Spruce Pine, NC
• The Colburn Earth Science Museum, Asheville, NC
• Museum of the Middle Appalachians, Saltville, VA
• Gray Fossil Site, Gray TN
• Develop self guided exhibits in the museum (combination of traditional, multimedia, hands on) for public education, concentrating on themes of regional geology, earth materials, and the evolution of life on earth.


3. Collection management oversight:
• Departmental faculty serve as curators of the collections in their field of specialty, however the museum coordinator will have oversight of the collection management, and care of the collections (housed in new space on the floor below the museum - see figure below).
• The museum coordinator will have assistance in maintaining the collections from the departmental lab manager and potentially from student assistants.


4. External Funding:
• The museum coordinator will seek external funding to support the primary mission of the museum.
• Near-term growth of the McKinney Geological Teaching Museum is expected in the types of programs that it offers and acquisition of show-piece material for exhibit, rather than expansion of new space.

Basement storage space in New Rankin Science Building

Closeup of museum space in New Rankin Science Building

Atrium entrance to McKinney Museum.	Atrium entrance to McKinney Museum.	Opening soon...	Displays in progress.	Displays in progress.