Foundation Supports Museum Renovation with Membership Benefits

Albuquerque, April 23, 2024 -  The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation is excited to support major facility renovations the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is undertaking beginning August 4, 2025. 

The Museum will be closed for approximately 7 months during the construction project that will include an enlarged lobby to improve traffic flow and allow for more efficient ticketing. The box office will be unified to streamline ticket-buying, the NatureWorks Discovery Store will be re-imagined and expanded to include additional retail space for new inventory, new skylights will add more natural light in the Museum’s atrium, and permanent exhibition halls will be modernized and refreshed. Finally, updates to the sewer line will accommodate future growth.

The total cost of the Museum renovation is estimated at $3.67 million. It will be funded through a mix of state sources including from Statewide Capital Outlay and the Cultural Affairs Infrastructure Fund. Additional funding for the renovation of NatureWorks will be provided by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation.  Revenue from the Store is critical in providing additional support for the Museum. The NatureWorks Discovery Store renovation will be completed in the same timeframe as the overall Museum renovations - approximately seven months.

What this Means for Museum Members

The Foundation is deeply grateful for the continued support of the membership, and is committed to making sure memberships continue to provide value during the closure. These special accommodations have been arranged to benefit members:

• Membership Extension beginning August 4, 2025

  All active memberships will be automatically extended by seven months, so members won’t miss a thing when the Museum re-opens.

  
  

• Free Admission to Other DCA Museums & Historic Sites beginning August 4, 2025

  Thanks to the Department of Cultural Affairs, members will enjoy free admission at participating DCA institutions across the state. Just bring a current, valid membership card, and you're all set!  A list of participating locations can be found at https://www.newmexicoculture.org/visit

  
  

• Reciprocal Admission to Explora beginning August 4, 2025

  The Museum’s wonderful neighbors at Explora have offered complimentary admission to members during the closure. Again, simply show your valid membership card at the door.  Plan your visit at https://www.explora.us/

Museum Renovation Details and Resources

More information about renovations to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science can be found at https://media.newmexicoculture.org/release/1794/always-evolving-nm-m and updates and information throughout the project will be available at https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org and at the Museum's social media accounts: Facebook and Instagram.

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation will also provide updates and information to members through a monthly email newsletter (sign up at https://www.naturalhistoryfoundation.org/newsletter-annualreport), online at naturalhistoryfoundation.org, and at the Foundation's social media accounts: Facebook and Instagram.

About The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation (NMMNHF) is a 501(c)(3) founded in 1978 whose purpose is to support the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. The Foundation’s offices are co-located inside the Museum at 1800 Mountain Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104. The mission of the NMMNHF is to advance the educational, scientific, and cultural programs of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science by raising funds and generating community support.

About the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, under the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. Programs and exhibits are generously supported by the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, through the generous support of donors. Established in 1986, the mission of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is to preserve and interpret the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning. The NMMNHS offers exhibitions, programs, and workshops in Geoscience, including Paleontology and Mineralogy, Bioscience, and Space Science. It is the Southwest’s largest repository for fossils and includes a Planetarium and a large format 3D DynaTheater. 

Verus Research Provides $75,000 Gift

VERUS RESEARCH PROVIDES GIFT OF $75,000 TO SUPPORT THE GIANT SCREEN THEATER AT THE NEW MEXICO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY & SCIENCE

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation recently received a multi-year gift of $75,000 from Verus Research to support the giant screen Verus Research DynaTheater at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. Foundation CEO Abigail Eaton stated, “We are honored to partner with Verus Research and value their longtime commitment to the NMMNHF and our mission. We are grateful for their most recent gift as Presenting Sponsor of the Verus Research DynaTheater.”

Grady Patterson, CEO of Verus Research added, “As responsible corporate citizens of Albuquerque, Verus Research nurtures enduring partnerships for the benefit of a wide variety of stakeholders.  Our long-standing ties to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science and our support for the DynaTheater are foundational elements of how we bolster our community partners and this city and state that have been so good to us.”

The Verus Research DynaTheater recently underwent a major upgrade which saw it equipped with new state-of-the-art laser-illuminated 4K 3D projection, along with an upgraded surround-sound system, a suite of complementary technologies that enhances the theater’s programming flexibility. Visitors can experience the 65-foot wide screen come alive as never before at one of three films currently showing: Blue Whales Return of the Giants 3D, Animal Kingdom 3D, or In Saturn’s Rings.

Verus Research DynaTheater Reopen After Upgrades

As of Wednesday, May 29, 2024 the Verus Research DynaTheater is reopen after a 9-day closure for upgrades. The theater underwent a major technological transformation, which saw it equipped with new state-of-the-art laser-illuminated 4K 3D projection, along with an upgraded surround-sound system, a suite of complementary technologies that will enhance the theater’s programming flexibility.

The theater’s giant 65-foot-wide screen now comes alive as never before – immersing audiences in dazzling ultra-high-resolution images featuring lush and vibrant colors and deep, infinite blacks, bringing 2D and 3D cinema experiences alive for a new generation of museum visitors. The immersive cinema sensation is complemented by a powerful upgrade to the theater’s multi-channel sound system, revealing new depth and clarity of audio details while reproducing sounds as soft as a whisper or as loud as a hurricane with equal fidelity.



Through this powerful new digital portal, the next generations of visitors will discover the magic of being immersed in giant-screen explorations of the universe around them; experiences which instill a passion for discovery, promote curiosity, and encourage viewers of all ages to pursue adventures of their own.

Visitors can experience the new upgrades with the new film Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D, playing now at the Verus Research DynaTheater!