Taitung County Natural History Education Museum Introduction
The Taitung County Natural History Education Museum originated from the Shell Collection established in 1985 at San-Xian Elementary School in Chenggong Township, Taitung County. In 1994, the Provincial Museum established the Taitung County Natural History Education Museum based on this foundation, systematically organizing, displaying, and researching the original shell specimens. The museum now houses 557 types of shell specimens, along with a mineral display room that collects marine treasures and minerals from around the world. It combines natural resources with educational functions, serving as an excellent classroom for understanding the precious marine and mountainous resources concealed along the eastern coastline. The establishment of the Taitung County Natural History Education Museum proves that the beautiful eastern coastline offers not only stunning sea views and mountains but also fascinating evolutionary evidence from deep within the ocean, which is one of nature's most magical gifts. Among the museum's collection of shell specimens, the Adena's Nautilus and the Draco's Nautilus, both regarded as living fossils, are particularly notable. The Adena's Nautilus first appeared about 570 million years ago, and a living species was discovered in the late 19th century, hence it is viewed as a living fossil. The Adena's Nautilus prefers to eat sponges, boasts a large and beautiful shell, and possesses high academic value, making it a precious specimen not to be missed by shell researchers or collectors. The Taitung County Natural History Education Museum acquired an Adena's Nautilus in 1997, with a diameter of 10 cm, sourced from the deep sea of the Bahamas. The Draco's Nautilus is also considered a living fossil, and a large quantity was discovered in the waters of the Diaoyu Islands between 1969 and 1970, leading to the phenomenon known as the "Dragon Palace Shell Shock," which further prompted the establishment of the Malacological Society of the Republic of China. The museum’s collection of Draco's Nautilus has a diameter of 8.5 cm and is classified as a small Draco's Nautilus, sourced from the deep sea of northeastern Taiwan. On the third floor mineral display room of the Taitung County Natural History Education Museum, over 200 pieces of mineral and rock specimens from Hualien and Taitung areas are showcased, including jadeite from the Central Mountain Range, Taiwan sapphires, and various gems. Through a comparison of raw stones and carved items, visitors can recognize and understand the applications and values of these beautiful stones in craftsmanship. The first discovery of Taiwan sapphire raw stone occurred during the Japanese colonial period when indigenous people found it on Dulan Mountain; it is a blue translucent stone measuring 70 cm in height, 30 cm in width, and 30 cm in length, officially initiating the treasure hunting craze in the Eastern Coastal Mountain Range. Currently, aside from occasionally finding small raw stones in the Eastern Coastal Mountain Range, the original mineral vein has ceased production. The Taitung County Natural History Education Museum’s collection of Taiwan sapphire raw stone measures 29.5 cm in height, 21 cm in width, and 21 cm in length, and was acquired in 1998.
