Waco's #8 Attraction - Mayborn Museum!

 Mayborn Museum celebrates 20th year anniversary with unveiling of life-size mammoth sculptures

One of the coolest museums that is in Waco, TX is the Sue and Frank Mayborn Science and Cultural History Museum Complex at Baylor University. This museum opened in 2004, but many elements of the museum date much farther back than its opening date.

Beginning in the 1850s, Baylor professors began collecting various materials in the fields of biology, physics, chemistry, geology and more. Professors John K. Strecker, Ollie Mae Moen, and Governor Bill Daniel all contributed to this historic complex by either gathering different artifacts, providing leadership during its expansion, and donating the Historic Village to the University in 1985. 

This iconic Waco museum features five stunning exhibits:

The Natural and Cultural Exhibits has many of the artifacts that Professor Strecker collected such as the humpback whale skull. One of the most exciting exhibits in the museum is the Waco Mammoth National Monument Exhibit which displays original casts of the fossils beneath a glass floor. This is a really cool experience for all as you can literally walk directly over the fossils. 

The Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village include structures that were relocated from Liberty, Texas to Baylor's campus in 1986. These historic buildings now sit along the banks of the Brazos River and offer a glimpse into how life was back in the 1890s.

The Jeanes Discovery Center is more geared towards young families and children where you can interact with different rooms that feature backyard ecology, bubbles, light and sound, energy, and much more. I really enjoyed this exhibit when I was younger. 

The Etruscan Legacy is an exhibit that partners with Baylor's Center for Global Engagement which helps provide cultural appreciation for the Etruscans and how their civilization lived.

The final exhibit is Sacred Places which has various of sites featured from around the world. Different faiths, religious practices, and cultures are displayed here and has different artifacts, images, and stories from more than 24 sites. 

And just when you thought all of this was a lot, Mayborn just added two new bronze mammoths to the front of the building! The museum marked their 20th year anniversary by unveiling the life-size mammoth sculptures and celebrated the first phase of a significant 10-year renovation plan.

If you are visiting in Waco and even aren't that interested in science, I would still highly encourage you to visit this must-see attraction of Waco, TX as it really has some cool artifacts and exhibits to see. 

Links:

https://mayborn.web.baylor.edu/about/history-mayborn-museum-complex

https://mayborn.web.baylor.edu/exhibits


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