By New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science Staff,
After seven months of renovations, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is preparing for a grand re-opening in late March. The 40-year-old facility underwent major infrastructure updates, including bringing plumbing throughout the building up to modern standards, refreshing skylights and updating layouts to improve traffic flow. Though infrastructure was the construction’s major focus, visitors can also look forward to other exciting updates.
A New Traveling Exhibition
Animal Armor – Nature’s Battle for Survival, sponsored in part by Thornburg Investment Management, will invite visitors to uncover the surprising — and sometimes stunning — ways animals have protected themselves over millions of years. From hardened shells and overlapping scales to spines built for defense, the exhibit showcases nature’s most effective strategies through specimens ranging from living species to long-extinct prehistoric creatures. Designed by Gaston Design Inc., Animal Armor will offer a rare opportunity to see how evolution shaped protection — and how those ideas continue to influence the world around us.
Updates to Permanent Exhibit Areas
New to the space area is a Solarium — an innovative video artwork installation that projects NASA footage of the sun across two walls, providing an enthralling large-scale moving picture of our sun’s surface. The museum’s showcase Jurassic Hall will offer newly updated labels for two of the biggest dinosaurs, as well as a special installation detailing how scientific knowledge evolves over time and why the original labels were no longer accurate.
Entryway and Gift Shop
A fully remodeled and expanded gift shop will reflect different areas of the museum, with zones for dinosaurs, space, ancient life, volcanoes, gemstones and nature. Items will include offerings unique to New Mexico that coordinate with exhibits seen in the museum.
A new lobby area with a combined admissions and membership desk will help the visitors entry and ticketing process move smoothly. The space also offers new opportunities for event rentals, with access to the Verus Research DynaTheater, providing groups the opportunity to rent both the theater and a private gathering space at the same time. Local businesses or groups may send inquiries regarding rental space to Kim Gilbert at [email protected] or (505) 841-2807.
New Films on the Giant Screen
Two new films and a returning favorite will be available in the Verus Research DynaTheater — “Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure 3D,” “Turtle Odyssey 3D” and “T. Rex 3D.” “Bugs!” delves into the extraordinary hidden world of insects, where a leaf weighs more than a car, rain drops feel like exploding hand grenades and a blade of grass soars like a skyscraper. “Turtle Odyssey” explores the unique lifecycle of an Australian green sea turtle named Bunji and her incredible journey across the open ocean. “T. Rex” tells the remarkable true story of three kids who discovered a teenage Tyrannosaurus rex fossil and explores the life of the GOAT — the Greatest of All Tyrants.
Exclusive Members-Only Preview Day
A special preview day will occur prior to the public reopening, allowing museum members to experience the renovations, new exhibits and films a day before the general public. Memberships are available for purchase at naturalhistoryfoundation.org and allow free entry to the museum for a full year. Membership purchases made during the closure timeframe will activate upon the museum’s reopening and be valid for a year thereafter.
Grand Re-Opening Details
Grand re-opening dates and information will be available at www.nmnaturalhistory.org and www.naturalhistoryfoundation.org.
