Greencastle, Indiana: Periodic Display of the Elements

After seeing this listed on Roadside America, I stopped by. It's on the third floor, at the top of the stairs, in the Julian Science and Mathematics Center (named for chemist Percy Julian). It's not in a room; it's just on the wall, and the display was not lit up during my visit. I rushed there to see it before noon, as the posting said it closed at noon, but it appears to be open whenever the building is open. I'm a high school chemistry teacher, and I thought it was great fun. Worth at least 10 minutes, although my GPS had me park across campus, so my visit lasted longer (Better to navigate by the cross streets listed in Roadside America directions).

This free display is in the Julian Science Center at DePauw University. It is the creation of Max Whitby and Theodore Gray and features actual samples of each element for viewing. They are arranged in the order of the periodic table and include real-life examples -- such as Pepto-Bismol in Bismuth -- as well as the elements in their raw form. Even as a non-chemistry-inclined adult, I enjoyed this. The kids really liked it and spent quite a bit of time studying it. It was a great way to make the elements into something tangible for them.