The history of the Geological Museum of the University began in 1860 with the arrival Palermo Gaetano Giorgio Gemmellaro (1832-1904), appointed to the chair of Geology and Mineralogy, and the attached Cabinet of Geology, Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences University. The creation of a museum of natural history had been a goal long pursued by the University leadership. Since the early years of its establishment, even as Directed Academy of Studies, had risen a Cabinet of Sciences Natural, the Natural History professorship service, where They were kept various artifacts, collected by Abbot John Cancilla, one of the first teachers of the subject.