The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-05-12


thing given special mention in Bae-
deker's it's pretty sure to be worth
seeing. The Georgia State Museum,
on the third floor of the capitol build
ing in Atlanta, is reported in Bae-
deker's Guide of the United States
and Canada as a museum of high
merit. 1t is one of the things set
down as of foremost interest to the
tourist travelling through this part
of the south. And strangely enough
it is visited by more tourists, per-
haps, than native or resident Geor-
gians. In fact, the people of Georgia,
for the most part, are apparently
unaware that one floor of their state
capitol is given up to a museum,
illustrative of the states resources
and industries, and worth from
$4,000 to $4,000.
1t is visited possibly by an aver
age of some two dozen persons a
day-on excursion days the crowds
are larger-and many of these are
from outside the state.
And yet it is a liberal education
in itself. 1t is one of Georgia's most
valuable assets, and furnishes a field
for study and investigation as well
as passing entertainment, which
Georgians ought by no means to ig-
more.
A Work of Fifteen Years.
The State Museum is a concrete
expression of fifteen years of scien-
tific labor and expert knowledge on
the part of the members of the
State Geological Department, and the
Department of Entomology. 1t has
a rare value both from an economic
point of view in displaying the re-
sources of Georgia, and from the
standpoint Of education and pure
knowledge, it is worth undoubtedly
many times over the money that has
been invested in it.
This museum contains a very COM
plete collection of Georgia minerals,
a collection of commercial minerals
and ores, a magnificent exhibit of
building stones, a archaeological
collection an educational series of
rocks, an chronological exhibit of
practical value to the farmer and
truit grower, an exhibit of Georgia
woods, both finished and unfinished.
an exhibit of fruits and grains, and
small collection of Indian and war
relics.
The entire display is peculiarly
Georgian, and represents wholly
Georgia products and resources and
concerns directly Georgia interests.
Has Taken Many Medals.
The idea of the State Museum was
conceived and the work of collecting
1t begun just before the Atlanta Ex- I
position in 1895, or about fifteen |
years ago. Provision was made for |
state museum Similar conditions
have been made with regard to an
preparations made for state exhibits !
at the eXpOsitions held at Nashville. |
Omaha, Buffalo, Charleston. St. Louis |
and jamestown, and the present !
state museum is a combination of the |
permanent features Of these various |
Georgia exhibits at the exposition /
named.
At these eXpositions the Georgia
exhibits have taken many sold. sill
yer and bronze medals, all of which /
are on exhibition. The museum is
known not only over this country,
but in Europe, and not a few visitors
to this country from across the water
have gone to the state capitol to
see it.
Still it is by no means regarded
as complete, and improvements and
additions are continually being made.
The cases in which many of the ar
ticles are displayed are made of ma
hogany and are modelled after those
of the National Museum in Washing
ton. They were selected for their
durability and service in displaying
specimens. They are however, care
fully and Systematically arranged;
there is nothing of confusion or any
haphazard work about it, such as is
often found in some of the largest
museums of the country
In purpose, completeness and ex-
tent the Georgia Museum is the only
thing of its kind to be found in the
south.