A groundbreaking ceremony was held today on the grounds of VMNH to celebrate the future site of ...

June 16, 2021

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today on the grounds of VMNH to celebrate the future site of the Jim Tobin Monarch Waystation, which is scheduled to be officially unveiled during the museum's Bug Day 2021! on Saturday, July 24.

The Monarch Waystation will be a designated area near the museum's outdoor plaza that provides all of the resources necessary for monarch butterflies to successfully sustain their migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. The Waystation will not only educate youth about the value of pollinators, but also motivate them to strive for a brighter future!

The Waystation is named in honor of Jim Tobin, who served as the Executive Director of Piedmont Community Services for over 30 years and has generously given his time and treasures to both the Virginia Museum of Natural History and the Dan River Basin Association over many years.

Special thanks to the Dan River Basin Association and Piedmont Community Services for helping make the ceremony and future waystation possible!