Brief History
The museum was founded in 1984 as The Boaz Foundation, a private institution. Guided by a group of scholars and citizens from throughout the Commonwealth, The Boaz Foundation soon became the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Recognizing the need for public support, A. L. Philpott, then Speaker of the Virginia General Assembly, worked on behalf of the institution in an effort to secure state agency status in 1988. Since its founding, VMNH has experienced phenomenal growth, and has earned recognition as one of the nation's leading museums in its field. It is accredited by the American Association of Museums, a distinction earned by fewer than 5% of museums in the United States.

1984 
Guided by a group of scholars and citizens from throughout the Commonwealth, including Dr. Noel T. Boaz as Founding Director, the Museum is founded as The Boaz Foundation, a private institution, and soon becomes the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

1985
The Museum opens to the public on June 2, 1985.

1986  
The City of Martinsville donates the facility at 1001 Douglas Avenue, now the VMNH Research and Collections Center, to the Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation.

1988 
The Virginia Museum of Natural History becomes an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia thanks to the efforts of local and statewide leaders, including A.L. Philpott, then Speaker of the Virginia General Assembly.

The Virginia Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees holds its first meeting.

1989 
Dr. Michael W. Hager is appointed by the VMNH Board of Trustees as the first Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

A bridging agreement is formed between the Museum and the VMNH Foundation.

1992
Connie C. Gendron is appointed by the VMNH Board of Trustees as the second Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
 
1994 
The Museum earns accreditation from the American Association of Museums.

1996 
Stephen J. Pike is appointed by the VMNH Board of Trustees as the third Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

2002 
A $15 million non-referendum bond bill is passed for construction of a new VMNH facility.

Plans are unveiled for the new VMNH facility.

2003 
VMNH breaks ground at the site of the new Museum facility at 21 Starling Avenue.

2004 
Timothy J. Gette is appointed by the VMNH Board of Trustees as the fourth Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

Construction begins on the new VMNH facility at 21 Starling Avenue.

VMNH becomes a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.
 
2005 
The Museum unveils detailed designs for new permanent exhibits and the VMNH Foundation launches a $5 million capital campaign in support of the exhibits.

2007 
The new, world-class VMNH facility at 21 Starling Avenue opens to the public on March 31, 2007, the year of the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

2009
The Virginia Museum of Natural History celebrates its 25th anniversary.

2010
Joe B. Keiper, Ph.D. is appointed by the VMNH Board of Trustees as the fifth Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

The museum celebrates the opening of the new Hahn Hall of Biodiversity, the Hooker Furniture Discovery Reef, and the Fossil Overlook.

The museum earns re-accreditation from the American Association of Museums, a distinction earned by fewer than 5% of museums across the U.S.

2011
The Radford University Museum of the Earth Sciences becomes an Affiliate of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. The VMNH affiliation program further advances the museum’s mission as the state museum of natural history for Virginia, serving all citizens of the Commonwealth.