Johnson Geo Centre

The vision for the Johnson GEO CENTRE was developed by Paul Johnson and the Johnson Family Foundation, to highlight the unique and remarkable geological features of Newfoundland and Labrador as “Earth’s Geological Showcase.” No other easily-reached place on the planet has a geological record that so fully reveals the history of the Earth, going back almost to its birth over 4.5 billion years ago. The GEO CENTRE is a geological interpretation centre. It was built in a natural rock basin that was originally filled with peat, covering glacial till and boulders. The basin was excavated and the CENTRE constructed to fit between over 500 linear feet of exposed rock walls. Six geothermal wells, each over 500 feet deep, were drilled to either extract heat from the deep rocks in winter or dissipate heat into them in the summer. The large, glass-encased entry is the only part of the building above ground, leaving approximately 85 per cent of the building underground. Within the three-storey high reception hall, nine beautifully illuminated planets of our solar system are suspended. Apart from the main exhibit areas, the GEO CENTRE is also home to The Titanic Story exhibit, the ExxonMobil Oil and Gas Gallery, the Earth & Space 3D theatre, classrooms, facility rental spaces for corporate events and private functions, Marconi's Cafe and GEO GIFTS.