Geological Museum of the Dolomites
The Geological Museum of the Dolomites is located in Predazzo, Fiemme Valley, in the Trentino province of Italy. It is managed by the Comune of Predazzo and the Science Museum of Trento since 2012.
History
Interest in the geology of the Dolomites started in the 18th century, in the form of explorers and naturalists from all over the world. By the 19th century, geologists and scientists made the hotel "Nave D'Oro" in Predazzo the base for their explorations: Alexander von Humboldt, Jean Baptiste Elie de Beaumont, Charles Lyell, Roderick Murchison, Amelia Edwards and many more.The museum was founded in 1899 in order publicize the geological and natural heritage of the Dolomites through exhibits of minerals, fossils, rocks, etc. The collection, after a few moves in the 20th century, is now housed in the former "house of tourism and handicraft" in the main square of Predazzo.
In 2009, as part of the representation for the Dolomites themselves, the museum was inserted in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
In 2012 it became part of the MUSE (Science Museum of Trento).The refurbishment of summer 2015 enhanced the collection and the museum itself.
Exposition
The museum owns more than 12,000 items, both geologic and fossil, and the largest collection of invertebrate fossils of the Middle Triassic epoch in all Italy. It manages also an external educational itinerary, called "Dos Capèl geological path", that can be visited during summer.After the refurbishment of 2015, the hall replicates a room of the hotel "Nave d'Oro", with testimonials of the flourishing scientific and geological studies of the 18th century. The ground floor hosts an exposition about the history of the Dolomites and their scientific discovery. In the basement it is possible to explore the different mountain chains of the Fiemme Valley and Fassa Valley: Lagorai, Latemar, Catinaccio, Marmolada-Monzoni and Sella.
The museum hosts also a scientific library with over 4,000 volumes regarding geology, mineralogy and paleontology, with a specific section dedicated to history and antiques.