News Articles

March 30, 2018

Eleven years ago today, the museum opened its Starling Avenue facility in Martinsville! Since then, the museum's exhibit galleries have grown much bigger and much better! We want to thank everyone who has supported the museum over the years for helping VMNH become such a success!

March 30, 2018

VMNH curators Dr Alex Hastings and Dr Elizabeth Moore are at Roanoke College today for a 3D workshop with Dr Bernard Means from VCU. First up are bones from the giant ground sloth Megalonyx for an upcoming exhibit at VMNH. Happy #FossilFriday!

March 29, 2018

Did you know? The Virginia Museum of Natural History's PALEO Cafe offers a variety of snacks and lunch specials, including sandwiches, wraps, BBQ, burgers, paninis and soups. Visitors can also pick up breakfast and specialty coffees, with catering available both at the museum and for events throughout the area. The best part (other than the great food) is that proceeds benefit vital museum programs in research, education and exhibits! Stop by or contact us at diane.clark@vmnh.virginia.gov to learn more!

March 29, 2018

The museum is very pleased to announce the formation of the Pete Henika Memorial Fund, which is made possible by an extremely generous gift from Bill and Mary Jane Henika. The endowment fund will support high-impact research projects in the field of geology and other natural history disciplines.

March 29, 2018

Dr. Nancy Moncrief, curator of mammalogy, and Liberty Hightower, research technician, are currently attending the 28th Colloquium on Southeastern Mammals in Roanoke. Dr. Moncrief presented a poster about her research on barrier island mammals; research she is conducting with VMNH Research Associates Ray Dueser and John Porter.

March 29, 2018

We are partnering with some amazing wineries and distilleries from across the region for Grapes & Grains on April 21, including Hamlet Vineyards in Bassett, VA. To learn more about their events, specials, wine tastings and private event hosting opportunities, please visit https://www.hamletvineyards.com/. Reserve your tickets and table sponsorships today for Grapes & Grains at the Virginia Museum of Natural History on April 21! Event proceeds support vital museum programs in Research, Education and Exhibits.

March 28, 2018

Cristin Dorgelo, president and CEO of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), and Christofer Nelson, future Chief Operating Officer of ASTC, stopped by the museum today as part of a listening tour to learn about each ASTC member institution. We had a great time touring them around the museum and showing off all that the museum has to offer!

March 27, 2018

Dr. Keiper, executive director of VMNH, and Debbi Bryant, of the museum's education department, are having a blast at STEM Night at West Salem Elementary School in Salem, Virginia! They are showing off a few specimens from the museum collections in hopes of sparking interest in a career in natural history!

March 26, 2018

Dr. Ollie Flint, former VMNH Trustee and eminent scientist, deposited some Virginia insect specimens in our collections! Pictured is a vial of specimens of caddisflies - small aquatic insects from streams. The specimens are Neotrichia doppleganger, a new species described by Andrew Keth, an expert in insect identification. When a new species is identified and described, the researcher will designate a holotype - the specimen that "defines" that species. Every species known has a holotype. If available, paratypes can be designated, as well. They are specimens that were studied during the original investigation of the new species. The holotype was deposited at the Smithsonian, but we are now keepers of paratypes. This was ...

March 25, 2018

VMNH paleontologist Dr Alex Hastings is out this weekend at the Fossil Fair of the DVPS, Delaware Valley Paleontological Society in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, giving a talk on ancient reptilian predators. Great event with lots of fascinating fossils and gems! One display even had a massive crocodile vertebra from Virginia!

March 23, 2018

VMNH paleontologist Dr Alex Hastings is in Philadelphia today at the Academy of Natural Sciences for fossil crocodile research. Perfect timing, they even have a traveling exhibit called "Crocs"! #FossilFriday

March 23, 2018

Dr. Alex Hastings, assistant curator of paleontology at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, recently had a book review published in Palaeontologia-Electronica for "Terrestrial Conservation Lagerstätten: Windows in the evolution of Life on Land," by Dr. Nicholas Fraser (former VMNH curator of paleontology) and Dr. Hans-Dieter Sues.

March 22, 2018

We had a wonderful time hosting dozens of preschoolers from the Collinsville YMCA this morning! The children had the opportunity to explore some of the museum's exhibits and took part in the "Bears in the Forest" program led by museum educators.

March 21, 2018

Dr. Elizabeth Moore, curator of archaeology, presented a lecture to students in the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Mary Washington earlier this week. Dr. Moore discussed the role of archaeology in historic preservation and how zooarchaeology contributes to our understanding of past cultures.

March 21, 2018

Dr. Elizabeth Moore, curator of archaeology, spent this past weekend at the Middle Atlantic Archaeology Conference in Virginia Beach. The annual meeting allows for interested professionals and other individuals to meet and learn about archaeology from New York to Virginia through workshops, discussion groups and other presentations. In the first picture, Virgina's Underwater Archaeologist, Dr. John Broadwater, examines Dr. Moore's workshop poster on best practices for zooarchaeology, 3D images, and file sharing at #MAAC2018. In the second picture, Dr. Moore and VMNH Research Associate, Dr. Bernard Means of the VCU Virtual Curation Laboratory, scan a cow skull, which exhibits severe pathology at the Middle Atlantic ...

March 21, 2018

It might be a snowy mess outside today, but it's an exciting adventure inside the museum every day! We're open until 5 p.m. today!

March 20, 2018

Due to winter weather, the museum is currently scheduled to open at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 21. If you are planning to visit the museum, please confirm operating hours before traveling. Thank you!

March 20, 2018

Pre-school students from Hurt Elementary in Pittsylvania County, Virginia visited the museum today to tour the exhibits and take part in a dino-themed education program! Thank you to all those who participated and thank you to all of our corporate and individual supporters for making such school visits possible!

March 19, 2018

Don't miss this wonderful exhibit at Patrick Henry Community College, March 26-30!

March 18, 2018

Dr. Kal Ivanov, assistant curator of invertebrate zoology, is currently in Annapolis, Maryland for the Eastern Branch meeting of the Entomological Society of America! Dr. Ivanov has been presenting his own research and also serving as judge of student presentations!

March 16, 2018

Virginia Museum of Natural History educators recently led an outreach education program for 7th graders at Westwood Middle School in Danville. Thank you to First Piedmont Corporation for sponsorship support of this program, and thank you to the students and faculty at Westwood for hosting us! A variety of standards-based outreach and distance learning programs can be scheduled by contacting us at 276-634-4185 or discover@vmnh.virginia.gov.

March 16, 2018

VMNH and Mountain Valley Brewing teamed up for Astronomy Night! Thank you Herb and Dr John for showing the group things like Venus, Mercury, the Orion Nebula, and much more. Education Manager Christy Deatherage also brought iPads and used an app to show children how to interpret the night sky.

March 14, 2018

The VMNH paleo team made it at long last to the Sanford Museum & Planetarium. We packed up a rare and amazingly preserved pelvis of the giant sloth Megalonyx. This sloth lived across America, including Virginia & Iowa. This will be cast at VMNH to help make a full giant sloth skeleton for our exhibits. Great museum in Cherokee, Iowa!

March 14, 2018

We had a great time hosting a recent museum sleepover for students of Galax Middle School and would love to offer the same amazing experience for your students or group! If you're interested in taking part in a museum sleepover, be sure to visit the museum's website at www.vmnh.net/sleepovers to learn more...or contact us at discover@vmnh.virginia.gov today!

March 14, 2018

With clear skies and comfortable temperatures in the forecast, Family Astronomy Night will take place as scheduled!! We hope to see you there!

March 13, 2018

With clear skies and comfortable temperatures forecasted for tomorrow, Family Astronomy Night will take place as scheduled!! We hope to see you there!

March 13, 2018

Due to yesterday's winter weather, the museum will open at 10 a.m. today.

March 12, 2018

VMNH paleo crew Alex Hastings, Ray Vodden & former intern Aryanna are on the road this week as part of exhibits and research projects. First stop was Dayton, Ohio & an attempt to relocate an old Ice Age fossil site. Productive visit at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, home to some great mastodon & giant sloth material!

March 12, 2018

Due to winter weather, the museum is closed on Monday, March 12.

March 9, 2018

Last day at the Carmel Church site was great! We packed out a massive, 7-foot whale jaw, several vertebrae & ribs, plus another whale jaw and a big block of bone and rock, not to mention the many great shark teeth! #FossilFriday

March 8, 2018

Day 4 was another great day at the Carmel Church Quarry fossil site in Ruther Glen, VA. The whale is excavating out nicely, with the lower arm bone (ulna) removed today plus a few other small bones, and an entirely new whale jaw is coming out from another section, PLUS the crew found a sea turtle and other pieces of whale skull in the Grid. And so so much more!

March 8, 2018

Day 4 of the dig at the Carmel Church Quarry was another success. Check out this little tour of the big fossil whale excavation the team has been working on!

March 8, 2018

Dr. Jim Beard, curator of earth sciences at VMNH, presents "Virginia Geology: Global Connections, Evolving Landscapes, and Local Treasures"

March 7, 2018

Day 3 at the Carmel Church Quarry was another success! After dealing with a bit of a muddy scenario from last night's rain the team got out the other ear bone from the whale skeleton (!!!) plus the back of the skull & uncovered a lot more. The ear bone was found by NCSU student Rachel Hunter (who also found the other one). Plus volunteer Michael Stevens found a terrific megalodon tooth AND NCSU student Anna McCallum and VMNH tech Lucy Treado each found a dolphin ear bone. In case you missed it, check out the video from our Facebook Live earlier today!

March 7, 2018

WE ARE HIRING! The Virginia Museum of Natural History is currently accepting applications for the position of Administrative Assistant within the Department of Administration and Services. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, visit www.vmnh.net/careers!

March 7, 2018

VMNH paleo is here at the beautiful Carmel Church Quarry fossil site in Ruther Glen, VA. Checking me in with questions and comments at any time!

March 7, 2018

Dr. Alex Hastings will be going live at the top of the hour from the Carmel Church Quarry in Caroline County! He and his team are currently at the fossil-rich site for a week-long dig!

March 6, 2018

VMNH paleo had a great Day 2 at the Carmel Church fossil site. Good progress was made on the whale skeleton and more great fossils from this 14 million year old marine site. We even got a rare bird leg bone and the super important ear bone from the whale skeleton (the best bone for identification). As long as the weather holds out, we'll be live from the site at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday), right here on Facebook. Feel free to tune in and ask questions!

March 6, 2018

Be sure to join us for a special Facebook LIVE session from Carmel Church Quarry tomorrow at 10 a.m.! Dr. Alex Hastings, assistant curator of paleontology, is leading a crew to excavate whale fossils from one of the richest fossil deposits in the eastern United States!

March 5, 2018

VMNH paleo is out at the Carmel Church Quarry this week, excavating some roughly 14 million year old fossil sharks, whales and fish! Great first day! We're continuing excavation of a whale skeleton (in plaster from previous dig) that's coming along nicely. Roanoke College student Jenna Novosel even found the leg of a camel or horse (super rare!). Be sure to check us out at 10am Wednesday when we go live from the dig!

March 4, 2018

Because power outages are still affecting many people in Virginia and elsewhere, VMNH is pleased to offer free admission to all museum visitors on Monday, March 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.! The museum's executive director, Dr. Joe Keiper, will also have a special display of specimens and artifacts to show visitors throughout much of the day! Whether you are affected by the outages or simply looking for a fun adventure, be sure to visit us for a day of free admission!

March 3, 2018

Ray Vodden, research technician at VMNH, is casting a giant ground sloth as part of a multiyear project to reconstruct and display a full skeleton at the museum!

March 1, 2018

Our friends at Reynolds Homestead are hosting the The Empty Bowls fundraising event for the Patrick County Community Food Bank. For $10 you will have the opportunity to select a handcrafted bowl made by members of the community; a bowl of your choice of nearly 20 different delicious homemade soups; a chance to bid on a variety of great silent auction items, and you'll be entertained by some great musicians. And best of all, when you buy a bowl, you feed a friend in need! If interested in attending, please contact the Homestead at: www.reynoldshomestead.vt.edu/contact/