University of California Museum of Paleontology

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37°52′16.18″N122°15′43.24″W / 37.8711611°N 122.2620111°W /37.8711611; -122.2620111

University of California
Museum of Paleontology
The University of California Museum of Paleontology is located within the Valley Life Sciences Building

Established	1921 (1921)
Location	Berkeley, California
Type	Natural history museum
Director	Charles R. Marshall
Website	ucmp.berkeley.edu

TheUniversity of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) is apaleontology museum located on the campus of theUniversity of California, Berkeley.

The museum is within the Valley Life Sciences Building (VLSB), designed byGeorge W. Kelham and completed in 1930.^[1]^[2] Its collections are primarily intended for research and are, thus, not accessible to the public. A limited number of fossils from the collection is on display in the VLSB.^[3] Although located on the Berkeley campus, the museum is the primary locality for storing fossils collected statewide. The original fossils, around which the current collection has grown, were those gathered as part of theCalifornia Geological Survey from 1860 to 1867.

Website

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UCMP was one of the first museums to have its ownwebsite in the early 1990s, due to its location within a technology-oriented university with a goodInternet connection. The site has been applauded for its use of visually appealing graphics,^[4] was nominated for aWebby Award five times, and received a medal from theSmithsonian Institution. It also had a cameo appearance in the movieDeep Impact, albeit under an incorrect name.^{[citation needed]}

Notable figures

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Annie Montague Alexander was the first benefactor of the museum, and led some early expeditions.^[5]

Faculty

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ATyrannosaurus skeleton located on the first floor of the VLSB

Many notable paleontologists have worked as staff at UCMP. Dates given after each name indicate when the person was part of the university faculty or working in the museum.