7 Things You Didn't Know About the Sam Noble Museum

Not all secrets are on exhibit...

1. The "fossilized" floor icons are in chronological order.

c. Sam Noble Museum

Footprints and fossils and fauna – oh my! The oldest icons appear in the lobby and extend towards the bronze mammoth, concluding at the top of the stairs. Brings a new meaning to walking through history, right?

2. There is a rat behind the bust of museum director Michael Mares.

c. Sam Noble Museum

Not just any rat – a golden vizcacha rat. Mares and several colleagues are responsible for discovering and naming this species in South America. Now, how many people can say that?

3. Oklahoma celebrities like Gary England and Taylor Hanson support the museum.

The Lost Ogle / Via thelostogle.com

In case you haven’t heard, The Lost Ogle named Gary England as the most influential Oklahoman – over Bob Stoops. No big deal, but he is a current Board of Visitors member. Just saying.

4. If these walls could talk…

c. Sam Noble Museum

The Wapanucka limestone that encircles the entry rotunda is a native Oklahoma stone. The interior Indiana limestone was cut from the same quarry as the Holocaust Museum.

5. The museum makes its own weather.

c. Sam Noble Museum

Step back, Oklahoma. Ain’t nobody got time for triple digits. The museum contains 18 HVAC air handlers for controlling both temperature and humidity inside the building and collections.

6. All glass contains UV filters to protect artifacts and specimens.

c. Sam Noble Museum

Because you can’t exactly put sunscreen on the world’s largest Apatosaurus.

7. The building is shaped like a treasure chest.

c. Sam Noble Museum

The roof of the museum was designed to resemble the outline of a treasure chest as the 12 collections below house Oklahoma’s treasure. Yes, the land we belong to truly is grand.