The University of Iowa Central Microscopy Research Facility (CMRF) has been in existence for 27 years. Starting out as a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) research laboratory, the facility has offered formal college courses. These courses require that students identify a project to investigate during the semester. Theory from the formal lecture is reinforced by work performed in the laboratory session. From its modest beginnings, the CMRF has continually grown. Currently, the facility offers two Confocal microscopes, two Scanning Electron Microscopes, a Scanning Probe Microscope, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, a Mossbauer spectrometer, a PTI Ion Imaging/Ratio system, a Freeze Fracture apparatus, and three light microscopes equipped with CCD cameras. Techniques range from routine histology to in-situ hybridization. Technological advances over the history of the facility have not been confined to the lab. in the past, most lectures were given using overheads and 35mm slides.