The new Virginia Museum of Natural History, heralded as ‘world class’ is finally open. The Grand Opening was held on March 31, 2007.
During the gala event of the grand opening, Gov. Tim Kaine called the museum’s opening a “momentous occasion.� He noted that the opening coincides with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the first colony in Virginia which was established by English settlers in 1607.
The museum is 89,127 square foot building. The museum will display more of its approximately 22 million specimens of natural history. It will become a must see attraction not only for area residents, but for people from all over Virginia and elsewhere.
“It is a Smithsonian-class institution,� and "it is only fitting� that the museum is affiliated with The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C., said Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville.
Last year the museum had 30,000 visitors. With the new building it is viewed to have a potential of 80,000-140,000 visitors per year.
Construction cost of the new building was $13 million.
Source: Martinsville Bulletin, page 1, April 1, 2007
