UW Geology Museum
Explore the UW Geology Museum and take a peek into Wisconsin's deep history!
On your visit you can touch rocks from a time when there were volcanoes in Wisconsin; see corals, jellyfish and other sea creatures that used to live and swim where we now walk; and stand under the tusks of a mastodon while imagining yourself in the Ice Age.

Also on display at the Geology Museum are rocks and minerals that glow, a model of a Wisconsin cave, dinosaurs and meteorites.
Their mineral, rock and fossil collections have the power to educate and inspire visitors of all ages. Go see for yourself! The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays.

Make your own edible mineral crystal look-a-likes!
What you need: 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, candy thermometer, small, clean glass jar, cotton string, CLEAN washer, pencil, few drops of flavoring, few drops of food coloring.

1. Tie washer to one end of spring and then tie the other end to the pencil. The string should be about two-thirds as long as the jar is deep.

2. Heat the water in a saucepan over medium high heat until it starts boiling. While waiting for the pot to boil, moisten the cotton string and roll it in the sugar. Place the string in the jar with the pencil on the mouth of the jar; the end of the string should not touch the jar.

3. Completely dissolve sugar in boiling water, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon until the solution grows clear and reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit on the candy thermometer. 

4. Remove from heat and stir in flavoring and/or color before carefully pouring into the jar.

5.  Let the sugar water sit for a few days where no one will bother it. Your crystals will begin to grow in a couple of hours, however it's best not to touch the jar until around 5 days after.

6. When your crystals are as big as you want them, take out the string and break the crystals off. Eat and enjoy!