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December 8, 2021
*Exhibit to be the first-ever VMNH special exhibit featured in both English and Spanish.
The Virginia Museum of Natural History's (VMNH) upcoming special exhibit, The Science of Flight, received wind beneath its wings thanks to recent funding support provided by Carter Bank & Trust. The $2,500 gift will support the development of the exhibit, as well as the exhibit's opening day celebration on January 22, 2022.
“The Virginia Museum of Natural History is a great resource for Martinsville and the surrounding communities," said Commercial Banker Tyler Carter of Carter Bank & Trust. "We are happy to continue our support of their educational programs. The Science of Flight exhibit will be something that will capture the attention of all ages.”
A long-time supporter of the museum, Carter Bank & Trust has played a significant role in allowing VMNH to provide quality educational programming to audiences throughout Virginia and beyond over the years.
"Earlier this year, Carter Bank & Trust provided exceptional support for several of the museum's most popular virtual programs, such as #BenInNature, Museum Minute, and Tales of Ancient Life," said VMNH Deputy Director Ryan Barber. "With this latest funding, we will be able to ensure that the upcoming exhibit provides visitors with the same level of educational value, along with an exciting and memorable museum experience."
Humans have always been fascinated by flight. The desire to fly is illustrated in the myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun on wings made of wax, or in the hundred-plus sketches that Leonardo DaVinci created in the late 1400's as he attempted to determine how a human being could take to the air. The puzzle was finally solved on December 17, 1903, when Orville Wright piloted a powered aircraft he built with his brother, Wilbur, traveling 120 feet at 6.8 miles per hour. Mere decades later, in 1976, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the world's fastest stealth aircraft, flew a top speed of 2,193 miles per hour.
Such remarkable advancements would not have been possible without an understanding of the mechanics of flight, which humans learned by studying the first masters of the air: birds, bats, reptiles and insects.
Featuring a variety of specimens from its scientific collections, the Virginia Museum of Natural History's original special exhibit, The Science of Flight, will provide an in-depth look into the many different methods animals take to the air and how the animal kingdom provided the basis for humans' ability to take flight.
The Science of Flight exhibit will mark the first-ever VMNH special exhibit to be featured in both English and Spanish. The self-guided exhibit will include text panels explaining each aspect of the exhibit in both languages as part of the museum's ongoing efforts to achieve greater levels of accessibility throughout the museum experience.
The public unveiling of The Science of Flight will take place on Saturday, January 22, 2022 with an opening day celebration featuring a variety of aviation-themed activities and crafts.
Admission to the special exhibit and opening day celebration is included in the price of general museum admission, which is $10 for adults ages 18-59, $5 for children and youth ages 3-17 and seniors 60+. Admission is free for children under 3, VMNH Members, and members of ASTC Passport participating institutions.
Thanks to the Institute of Museum and Library Services' Museum's for All program and additional funding provided by Hooker Furnishings, museum admission is also free for all EBT cardholders now through April 2022. To qualify for this free admission program, visitors must present their EBT card and accompanying photo ID at the museum box office.
To learn more about the Virginia Museum of Natural History's exhibits, visit www.vmnh.net/exhibits. To learn more about Carter Bank & Trust, visit www.cbtcares.com.
