The Museum of Jurassic Technology

Entering the Mystery

The unmarked door opens into darkness. Incense mingles with the smell of old books. Your eyes adjust slowly to the dim light revealing a warren of small rooms connected by narrow passages. Wood and glass display cases line every wall, their contents illuminated by single spotlights that leave everything else in shadow.

This is not a museum that explains itself simply. Placards offer detailed information about exhibits, presented with academic rigor and scholarly attention. You read about historical figures, scientific discoveries, and cultural phenomena documented with precision. The depth of detail rewards slow, careful reading.

The museum was founded by David and Diana Wilson in 1988, though the building itself dates back over a century. Its stated mission involves “the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic.”

What You’ll Encounter

Exhibits span an extraordinary range. Microminiature sculptures carved from individual human hairs sit within the eyes of needles. You peer through microscopes at impossibly tiny figures—Pope John Paul II, Napoleon, Goofy—each carved with astonishing precision by artist Hagop Sandaldjian.

Collections devoted to obscure historical phenomena fill other rooms. Displays document trailer park culture, the heroic dogs of the Soviet space program, 17th-century polymath Athanasius Kircher, and unusual theories sent to Mount Wilson Observatory in the early 20th century. Each exhibit explores territories rarely covered by traditional museums.

Lawrence Weschler spent years investigating the museum for his 1995 book “Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder,” exploring the collection through conversations with founder David Wilson and deep research. The museum, according to Wilson, presents “phenomena that other natural history museums are unwilling to present.” This commitment to showcasing the overlooked, the unusual, and the under-documented makes every visit fascinating.

The Tea Room Experience

After wandering the galleries, stairs lead up to the Tula Tea Room. The space reconstructs the study of Tsar Nicolas II from St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace. A coal-fired brass samovar sits ready for hot tea service in glass accompanied by cookies.

The room provides respite from the intensity of the galleries below. Windows look out onto the rooftop garden, where more birds nest among potted plants. This tranquil space offers time to reflect on what you’ve seen and rest before continuing your exploration.

Just outside, birds nest among potted plants in an exceptional rooftop garden space that provides as deep & meaningful an experience as the exhibits within the museum. Often, an informal playing of an antique instrument mingles with the soft cooing of the resident doves.

Practical Considerations

Plan for at least two hours. The museum is small but extraordinarily dense with detail. Each exhibit case contains layers of information. The dimness and the scholarly depth of each display demand time and attention. Many visitors return multiple times, discovering new details with each visit.

Photography and cell phone use are prohibited throughout the museum. This policy encourages present-moment engagement and protects the contemplative atmosphere. You experience the exhibits directly rather than through screens, which deepens the impact.

The building’s age means some areas remain inaccessible to wheelchairs and strollers. The upstairs tea room and rooftop garden require navigating stairs. The museum offers discounted admission for visitors with mobility limitations who cannot access all areas.

Timed entry tickets must be purchased online before visiting.