Jurica Nature Museum provides glimpse into past, present and future of Illinois' ecosystem

Benedictine University's Jurica Nature Museum is a valuable educational resource for students of all ages who want insight into the world in which we live.

The museum is located on the second floor of the Birck Hall of Science and contains more than 10,000 specimens including birds, amphibians, coral and sea sponges, a whale skeleton and a polar bear.

Featured exhibits include an African savanna, a cast of the head of a tyrannosaurus rex, and a glimpse at Northern Illinois as it looked 200 years ago. The latest addition to the museum is an African leopard.

"A gentleman from Princeton, Illinois donated the leopard," said Fr. Theodore Suchy, O.S.B. who has served as museum curator for more than 30 years. "It is on record as one of the largest leopards ever found."

The museum represents the efforts of the late Dr. Hilary Jurica, O.S.B. and his late brother, Dr. Edmund Jurica, O.S.B. who collected specimens for their students to study during their combined century of teaching. Visitors include many students from neighboring elementary schools and junior highs.

Benedictine University's Jurica Nature Museum has been featured on the cable television and in numerous newspaper articles.

mail Benedictine University 5700 College Road Lisle, IL 60532 key contacts Jean-Marie Kauth e-mail jkauth@ben.edu phone (630) 829-6272