News Articles

March 29, 2017

Day 3 for the VMNH paleo team at our 14 million year old fossil site. Today was an official field trip through the Geological Society of America conference in Richmond this week. Very productive day with a whale skull including lower jaws and the end of the snout. Plus a catered lunch at the Caroline County Visitor Center!

March 28, 2017

Day 2 for the VMNH paleo team at our 14 million year old marine site, nice whale vertebra, plenty of sharks, plus a stop at the great Caroline County Visitor Center to see Spouticus!

March 28, 2017

Live from the Carmel Church Quarry in Ruther Glen, Virginia! Post questions for VMNH paleontologists Alex Hastings and Ray Vodden.

March 28, 2017

Check out our Ball Python, Reggie, eating her bi-weekly meal! *Warning, this video contains footage of a snake eating a mouse. The video was filmed from outside of her feeding container so as to not disturb her.

March 28, 2017

FACEBOOK LIVE FROM THE CARMEL CHURCH QUARRY! Dr. Alex Hastings, assistant curator of paleontology, will be broadcasting live from the field at 11:30 a.m. today. The Carmel Church Quarry (Caroline County, Virginia) is considered one of the richest marine fossil sites east of the Mississippi River and has yielded a tremendous amount and variety of fossils from over 14 million years ago. So far this trip, the team has found several manatee bones, shark bones, and a croc tooth. Be sure to tune in!

March 27, 2017

JOIN US LIVE ON FACEBOOK! Dr. Alex Hastings, assistant curator of paleontology, will be live at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, March 28) from Caroline County, Virginia, home of the Carmel Church Quarry and one of the richest marine fossil sites in the country! Dr. Hastings will be talking about the field work he and his team are completing this week.

March 27, 2017

The VMNH paleo team is at the Carmel Church Quarry (Caroline County, Virginia) this week, a 14 million year old site loaded with fossil sharks and other marine animals. The haul today included some manatee bones, sharks, and a croc tooth, stay tuned for more!

March 23, 2017

Students from Averett University are at the museum this morning for a behind the scenes tour of the museum's scientific collections areas and labs, as well as a self-guided tour of the museum's exhibits. The students are currently enrolled in a natural history course offered by the university. In these pictures, Dr. Kal Ivanov, assistant curator of recent invertebrates at VMNH, is presenting some of the insect specimens in the museum's scientific collections.

March 21, 2017

Day 4 for VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings, final day of documentary shooting in French Guiana, much better weather and fun with a fog machine!

March 21, 2017

Day 3 for VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings in French Guiana. Documentary filming in the rainforest where it definitely rains. A lot. Great day though!

March 21, 2017

Are you looking for fun, hands-on activities during spring break? Today from 9 a.m. to noon and this Friday from 2 to 5 p.m., join museum staff and volunteers as we split rocks in search of 220 million-year-old plant and animal fossils from the nearby Solite quarry, a world-renowned Triassic fossil site! This program is provided with regular admission or membership, and no RSVP is required. We look forward to seeing you at the museum!

March 19, 2017

Day 2 for VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings in French Guiana included a rainforest hike and a great coastal site! Stay tuned for wildlife photos!

March 18, 2017

Where is VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings? French Guiana (northern South America) for some documentary filming. First day was site scouting in some amazing locations, stay tuned for more updates!

March 18, 2017

The museum, along with Henry County Parks & Recreation and community partners, hosted the 8th annual Piedmont Kite Festival at Jack Dalton Park on Saturday, March 18. The event featured kite flying, kite building, games, crafts and live music. Thank you to all of our participants and partners for another wonderful event!

March 17, 2017

The Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation hosted its 30th annual Thomas Jefferson Awards ceremony on Thursday, March 16, 2017 in Martinsville. The VMNH Foundation Thomas Jefferson Awards ceremony is a statewide event that honors individuals, companies and organizations for outstanding contributions to natural science and natural science education in Virginia. The 2017 awards ceremony was sponsored by The Lester Group, Bruce Wingo, Norfolk Southern Foundation, and Bassett. The Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Natural Science was presented to Dr. Patricia M. Dove, University Distinguished Professor and C.P. Miles Professor of Science, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech. This award is ...

March 17, 2017

Join us for the 8th annual Piedmont Kite Festival tomorrow at Jack Dalton Park in Henry County, Virginia! The event is FREE to attend!

March 16, 2017

Dr. Elizabeth Moore is in Fredericksburg today serving on the State Review Board. The setting for these National Register reviews is the beautiful Gari Melchers Home and Studio.

March 16, 2017

Thank you to the Danville Register & Bee for highlighting the recent installation of the Virginia Museum of Natural History's Triceratops skull display at the Danville Science Center with this series of photos and time-lapsed video. The display will be in place through July 2017 as we prepare for the Dino Festival at VMNH, July 21-22. Be sure to stop by the DSC to check it out!

March 15, 2017

VMNH staff traveled to the Danville Science Center to install a Triceratops skull cast to be on loan through summer 2017. Be sure to stop by the Danville Science Center to check out the display, and mark your calendars for the Dino Festival at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, July 21-22, 2017!

March 14, 2017

Are you looking for fun, hands-on activities during spring break?

March 13, 2017

Virginia Museum of Natural History programs in scientific research, STEM education and one-of-a-kind exhibits are made possible by generous donations of all types and amounts. From Family Memberships and Discovery Fund donations to Corporate Partnerships and Endowment gifts, our programs are made possible by our generous supporters. To learn more about how you can help make these vital programs possible, please visit www.vmnh.net/donate-now. Thank you for your support!

March 13, 2017

Nearly fifty 2nd graders from the Pittsylvania County Gifted & Talented program visited the museum on Friday, March 10 to tour the exhibits and to take part in special educational programs led by the museum's educators. We had a blast hosting these students and hope they can make a return trip soon! These and other programs are made possible by Virginia Museum of Natural History Memberships, Corporate Partnerships, and Discovery Fund gifts of all amounts. To learn more, please visit www.vmnh.net/donate-now. Thank you for your support!

March 9, 2017

We are proud to serve students and visitors across the region and state.

March 9, 2017

2nd Thursday Science Talk presented by Dr. Mary Voigt

March 9, 2017

Don't miss the 2nd Thursday Science Talk this evening from 6 to 7 p.m. Can't make it? Join us via Facebook Live beginning at 6 p.m.!

March 7, 2017

Third stop for VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, Mississippi, great museum that even has a two-headed snake, and for a limited time, Titanoboa!

March 6, 2017

Second stop for VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings at the Alabama Natural History Museum in Tuscaloosa, love that Basilosaurus!

March 6, 2017

VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings hit the road this week. First stop: Birmingham, Alabama at the McWane Science Center! Great museum & connecting fossil collections of the southeast

March 2, 2017

We are excited to accept a Southern Virginia STEM-H Education and Industry Achievement Award from the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, New College Institute, and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center recognizing the Virginia Museum of Natural History as a Community Champion for STEM-H Education. This award recognizes the museum's continued contributions to STEM-H education across the region and state.