Join us at the Virginia Museum of Natural History as we celebrate Founder's Day on August 29 as part of the museum's year-long 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2009. Don't miss the Open House event on Saturday, August 29, featuring free admission and supervised behind-the-scenes access to selected scientific labs and collections storage areas for all visitors. VMNH Founding Director Dr. Noel T. Boaz will present a free talk at 1 p.m.

Click here to read more about Dr. Noel T. Boaz and his role in the development of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.

The Museum was founded on August 29, 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 10% of museums in the United States.

Below is the schedule of events for August 29:

Join us as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the museum's founding with a Museum Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  All visitors will enjoy free admission and supervised behind-the-scenes access to selected scientific labs and collections storage areas. VMNH Founding Director Dr. Noel T. Boaz will present a talk at 1 p.m.

Click here to learn more about the Virginia Museum of Natural History's "25th Anniversary Celebration".