FRI (Forest Research Institute) Timber Museum

The Forest Research Institute (FRI) Timber Museum in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, is a fascinating destination for anyone interested in forestry and woodwork.

The museum showcases exhibits of the best-known and most common commercial woods, displaying 126 commercially important species along its walls. The lower halves of the planks are left in their natural state, while the upper halves are oiled with linseed oil to enhance their features.

Visitors can learn about the characteristics of different woods, including transparent photomicrographs showing the structure of common Indian woods as seen under a microscope. The museum also features models representing different methods of air seasoning, steam seasoning, and solar kiln seasoning, as well as timber engineering techniques using short dimensional timbers for large span trusses.

One of the centerpieces of the museum is a transverse section of a 704-year-old Deodar (Cedrus deodara) tree, which was felled in 1919 from the hills of Uttar Pradesh. The annual rings on this exhibit provide a clear record of natural and climatic events over the centuries.

The Timber Museum is part of the larger Forest Research Institute campus, which is known for its magnificent colonial architecture and rich history. Established in 1906, the institute serves as an important center for research, education, and training in forestry and environmental sciences.