CAMBRIDGE, Illinois — A brand new museum in Cambridge, Illinois is showcasing our past through the eyes of our future.
The Cambridge Natural History Museum just held its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 10, and features fossils, minerals, Native American artifacts and many other pieces of history. It was all curated by the museum's brainchild — 9-year-old paleontologist Anderson Taylor.
During a family trip to Scotland two years ago, Anderson was inspired to open a museum after visiting the Staffin Dinosaur Museum.
"The owner of that museum started it when he was a teenager," Anderson said. "It isn’t big or fancy like what most people think of when they think of inspiring museums, but it contains many important and exciting fossils and I really enjoyed talking to and learning from the owner, who discovered all of the pieces I was looking at."
At his museum in Cambridge, the young paleontologist has artifacts on display that both he and community members have collected.
Anderson spoke with News 8 on The Current. You can find his entire interview in the video below.
"When you make a new discovery, it's really exciting," Anderson said.
After working with village officials, Anderson's family helped make his dream a reality and found a perfect building for the exhibit, located at 132 W. Center St.
"At nine years old, I was definitely not even thinking about this or the possibility or anything like that," John Taylor, Anderson's father, said. "You don't know how serious kids are when they say those sorts of things....Then over time, this conversation kept going on, like 'I wanna open my own museum.'"
Museum-goers are able to talk to Anderson directly about the fossils and artifacts in his museum, which is rare for most large museums. Teaching people about the remnants of the past is what he enjoys most.
"Usually they're uneducated about ancient life and I just teach them all of it," Anderson said. "And they leave being very knowledgable on all these fossils, plants."
You can keep up with the museum and when it will be open on its Facebook page here. Visits can also be scheduled in advance by making an appointment. That can be done by messaging the museum's Facebook page or (309) 704-0110.