About Us

The University of Minnesota is home to an extensive collection of meteorite samples and was approved as an official meteorite repository - designated UMin - by the Meteoritical Society in March 2024. 

The first catalog of meteorites at the University was published in 1890 and contained 52 meteorites. By the mid-1960s, the collection had grown to over 140 specimens and the bulk of the collection was transferred for display and storage at the Smithsonian Museum, although ownership still lies with the University of Minnesota. Since then, the collection has continued to expand with the addition of meteorites found in Minnesota and through generous donations by collectors. 

With our new repository status, we can now classify new meteorites and continue to support researchers within the University and at other institutions who would like to analyze these fascinating rocks.