Science Education Rocks

Geology Museum Motivates

The Joseph Andres Gutierrez Earth Science Museum and Education Center is named in honor of Joe Gutierrez, a Vulcan Chief Geologist who passed away in 2018. In 1993, Vulcan Materials opened the Museum and Education Center at its North Quarry in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The purpose of the museum is to help share information with area students and teachers about geology and mining, and their importance to our society.

“It’s very natural for a science center and a quarry to be able to find some things that are unique to partner on,” said Kaleideum Executive Director, Elizabeth Dampier.  “We’re both interested in geology. We’re both interested in the sciences. It allowed us to naturally come together and say ‘let’s bring all the resources that you have here in your museum as well as at the quarry and put it together.’”

5th graders Zion Hanchell and Mariah Wilson from Winston Salem Christian School enjoy looking at the rocks at The Joseph Andres Gutierrez Earth Science Museum and Education Center. 

At Kaleideum North, students see a large collection of gems and minerals, learn about the products and uses of these minerals in everyday life, and see the actual pit where the minerals are mined. The museum is also open to visitors and members of the community. Approximately 2,000 students toured the facility in 2017.

For more information, please visit north.kaleideum.org

Kristian Robinson, a 5th grader at Winston Salem Christian School, looks at the collection of gems and minerals at The Joseph Andres Gutierrez Earth Science Museum and Education Center.