Morrill Hall

Named for one of its largest benefactors and member of the Board of Regents, Charles Morrill, Morrill Hall is home to the Nebraska Museum of Natural History on the UNL Campus. Charles Morrill funded paleontological excavations in western Nebraska which recovered a number of fossils that were then housed at the university. The original museum building on the UNL campus was constructed in 1905 but burned down shortly after construction. It wasn’t until 1925 that the necessary funds were allocated ($300,000) to construct a new museum building. These funds were supplemented by further generous donations from Charles Morrill. The construction was inspired by a number of other museums from around the country at that time, and was modeled around the central Elephant Hall exhibit. To this day it remains one of Morrill Hall’s most famous exhibits, housing a number of elephant, mammoth, and mastodon fossils, including the largest mounted mammoth fossil in North America. Morrill provided funding for many of the interior embellishments of the building, including the intricate murals that can be found in several locations. Construction of the building was completed in 1927 and dedicated to one of its largest supporters and benefactors, Charles Morrill. The building remains on the UNL campus today, still housing the museum and many of its rotating exhibits.