With more than 12,000 items on display, the Zobel Hall Museum offers much to see.
History
Before this building was the Zobel Hall Museum, it used to be the miners' Change House. This was the first and last stop of their workday. The entire building was filled with about 300 steel lockers. Each miner had their own locker with a chain attached. The chain looped over a pulley on the ceiling and then down to a basket. At the end of the day a miner would take off his wet and muddy work clothes, hang his shirt and pants on hangers, and put his boots in the basket. He would then pull the chain to hoist the basket close to the ceiling where the air was warmer so that his clothes would dry overnight. Some of the original lockers and baskets can still be seen in the museum today.
Exhibit Highlights
Oreck Mineral display
In the shower area there is a multi-million dollar mineral display donated by the Oreck family. The Oreck Mineral Gallery contains hundreds of fine mineral specimens. This is the finest display of minerals in the State of New Jersey. Special exhibits include pegmatite minerals, minerals of China, Russia, and Africa. Also displays of individual mineral species such as quartz, fluorite, calcite, stibnite, barite, celestine, and copper.
Fluorescent Mineral Display
In one corner of the museum there is a specially designed dark room to display the local fluorescent minerals from Sterling Hill and Franklin zinc mines. Upon entering this room, you will discover why the Franklin area is regarded as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World." This room gives visitors a taste of what is in store for them in the Warren Museum of Fluorescence, where more than 700 specimens of fluorescent minerals from around the world are on display.
Periodic Table display
In the museum there is an interactive, 10 foot long Periodic Table of the Elements. Each of the 112 cubbyholes in this display contains a sample of the actual element. A sample of ore from which the element is obtained, plus an example made from each element. Currently, we know of no larger or more complete display of the Periodic Table anywhere in the world.
Click here to see an interactive online version of the display. (Coming Soon)