US schoolboy, 9, sets Guinness World Record by opening natural history museum

A nine-year-old boy from Illinois has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest museum curator after opening his own natural history museum.

Anderson Taylor, from Cambridge, Illinois, opened the Cambridge Natural History Museum in 2024 when he was nine years and 340 days old, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The idea for the museum came in 2022 during a family trip to Scotland, where Anderson visited the Staffin Dinosaur Museum on the Isle of Skye. The visit inspired him to create a museum of his own.

After returning to the US, Anderson began presenting his idea to local officials and residents. His project gained support from the Cambridge community, which provided him with a building that had previously been used as a fire station and community centre.

Residents also donated display cases and exhibits, while the project received financial support. By the time Guinness World Records verified his achievement, Anderson had raised $20,000 for the museum’s development.

The museum, which officially opened on August 10, 2024, features fossils, minerals, gemstones and taxidermy specimens. Visitors can arrange tours with Anderson, who shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for natural history.

The 11-year-old now hopes to continue developing his interest in dinosaurs and fossils and pursue a career as a palaeontologist.

By Aghakazim Guliyev