The Museum Founders
The museum currently contains over 21,000 plants, 20,000 insects, and over 3000 vertebrates. This collection had its beginning with Vasco M. Tanner, the first Biology/ Geology instructor at Dixie Normal College (in 1916) and his colleague, Ernest M. Hall. Dr. Andrew H. Barnum, PhD became the first official Natural Science Museum curator in 1976. He maintained this position from 1976 – 2019. However, Dr. Barnum started caring for and curating the collection upon his arrival at Dixie as an instructor in 1959. Without him and all his efforts we may not have this amazing resource.
Pictured on the left is Vasco M. Tanner
The museum has received some degree of notoriety that no one knows about. Even as a “collection” it began receiving some national recognition. In a 1960’s publication about colleges, universities, and similar institutions, such as national parks having recognized collections of plants and animals lists Dixie Junior College and at the time was the only two-year college west of the Mississippi River having the name and description in the publication. Our collections hold some rare and unique specimens some of which are only found here in our collection. Instructors and students have continued to add to the collection through present day.
Pictured on the right is Andrew H. Barnum
Building a Collection
The collection started and was held at Dixie Normal College in a small walk-in closet in 1916. During the summer of 1963, the college and the small museum collection moved to its current location.
The summer of 1964 saw the development and creation of the Desert Garden which has a small pond. Over the years it has housed various desert rodents, non-venomous reptiles, desert tortoises, and desert plants. The idea for the garden was formed when Dr. Barnum attended a desert biology course at Arizona State University with a group of biology instructors from around the United States.
The location of Dixie State University is surrounded by the Great Basin Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Mojave Desert. Many plants and animals representing each of these geographic regions are only found together here.
Famous Gator
As surprising as it might be, alligators are not native to the desert southwest. However, in the mid 1960’s, at least two alligators were released into the Virgin river. One was shot by a farmer when found in his irrigation pond. In May of 1970, the other was found on the Bloomington golf course. This alligator was safely caught and transferred to the pond in the Desert Garden on campus where it lived for a year before dying of dehydration. This alligator, as a taxidermy specimen, may be seen in the museum.
Contact
Address
Utah Tech University
Snow Building, Room 207
225 S. University Ave
St. George, UT 84770
Bryan Stevens, PhD
Museum Curator
Email: bryan.stevens@utahtech.edu
Phone: 435-652-7771
Office: Snow Room 207