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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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}); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ''include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Mission:
The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.
History:
The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.
Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.
The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."
When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.
Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.
Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Online Event
Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Newell-Massey Greenway
Winston-Salem, NC
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Newell-Massey Greenway
Winston-Salem, NC
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); 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}); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC</title> <meta name="page_title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History - Gastonia, NC"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional" name="description"/> <meta content="Schiele, Museum, Of, Natural, History, Gastonia, NC" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="The Schiele Museum Of Natural History"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Mission: The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="35.252998"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-81.157501"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>1500 East Garrison Boulevard</div> <div> <span>Gastonia</span>, <span>NC</span> <span>28054</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.schielemuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Schiele Museum Of Natural History</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 704-866-6900</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=The+Schiele+Museum+Of+Natural+History%2C+1500+East+Garrison+Boulevard%2C+Gastonia%2C+NC+28054" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mission:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum of Natural History is committed to inspiring curiosity and understanding of science and the natural world through exceptional educational programs, exhibits, and research.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">History:</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schiele Museum goes way back... to 1961! It was then that Rudolph "Bud" Schiele was able to work with the community of Gastonia to establish a building for him to house his vast collection of animal specimens collected from his years spent exploring the natural world. Bud Schiele was 67 years old when he founded the Gaston County Museum of Natural History, today known as the Schiele Museum. The museum's opening was a culmination of a lifetime devoted to studying, cataloging and preserving nature. To understand The Schiele Museum's beginning is to understand this self-styled naturalist and botanist who refused to stop working in a profession that he loved so much. Rudolph Melchoir Schiele was born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893. He developed a keen interest in nature at an early age and, as a young man, worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Though only 17, Schiele began to dream of having his own sanctuary to display his nature collection.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Schiele served as a Second Lieutenant in the 87th Infantry Division of the United States Army after which he declined a job offer to be the only wildlife official in the Territory of Alaska. Instead, Schiele took the job as Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America. It was around this time that he married Lily Hobbs, who became his lifelong companion, naturalist and collector.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Schieles came to Gaston County in 1924 where he remained with the Piedmont Scout Council until 1958. Under his leadership, the Schiele Scout reservation at Tryon was built and became the home for thousands of scouts every summer until it was closed in 1981. For 38 years, Schiele collected wildlife, rocks and minerals, which he displayed at the scout office in Gastonia and at his home. After he was forced to leave scouting because of mandatory retirement age limits, Schiele applied to be a ranger-naturalist for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Before leaving Gastonia, however, Schiele proposed to a group of community leaders: "If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals and give my services for free."</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When the Schieles returned to their Gaston County home, plans were already in the works to find a sanctuary for the collection of birds, mammals, rocks, minerals and photographs. The original museum was dedicated in 1961 and, in 1965, the name of the museum was changed to The Schiele Museum of Natural History to honor its founder and benefactor. Today it's called The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Bud Schiele continued to be active in Museum affairs until he died in 1974. He was able to pass on some of his vast knowledge of the outdoors to his successor, Alan Stout, who retired in 1995. Stout, who spent nine years under Schiele's tutelage, says he wouldn't trade the experience for "two or three Ph.D.s." Over the years, Bud Schiele received several commendations for his endeavors as a naturalist, historian and community servant. In 1930, he was awarded honorary membership in Alpha Phi Omega at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1967, he was cited by the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce for outstanding service. In 1968, he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Belmont Abbey College. And each year, the museum observes the first week in April and the month of February as Founder's Week and Founder's Month, respectively, in his honor. Bud Schiele's legacy lives on — not only in the exhibits, but in the spirit of education and conservation engendered at The Schiele Museum.</p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/gastonia-nc/report/place/the-schiele-museum-of-natural-history-gastonia-nc.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/gastonia-nc/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Gastonia</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ncsenior-planet-tips-for-being-news-savvy-online-nc-011025-64nplvjqqw8.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-TIPS-FOR-BEING-NEWS-SAVVY-ONLINE">Tips for being news savvy online</a></h2> <p class="time">Friday, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue"></p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-01112025-1000-am-ctnlry2vknm.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Jan 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-with-a-doc-winstonsalem-nc-02082025-1000-am-tgn35s6tc2w.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-WITH-A-DOC">Walk With A Doc</a></h2> <p class="time">Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET</p> <p class="venue">Newell-Massey Greenway</p> <p class="loc">Winston-Salem, NC</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/gastonia-nc/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-GASTONIA-NC">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} 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