News Articles

August 30, 2017

Our understanding of dinosaurs is constantly evolving. The Smithsonian's iconic Stegosaurus skeleton that graced the halls of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. since 1917 was re-casted in in recent years to reflect a more accurate stance of the dinosaur. The Smithsonian gifted the new cast to VMNH and it is now on exhibit inside the museum. In Chicago, the famed T. rex named "Sue" is also being re-casted to better reflect the actual anatomy of the dinosaur. Learn more about the process here!

August 28, 2017

It'ssssssss back! The Reptile Festival, sponsored by Bassett Furniture Industries, Boxley and the Patterson Trust, is set to take place on Saturday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum. The event features over 100 snakes and other reptiles...even a host of amphibians will join the party! Mark Kilby will return to the festival, featuring some of the most amazing reptiles on the planet, including a king cobra, monocled cobra, timber rattlesnake, gila monster, alligator, alligator snapping turtle, red-footed tortoise and...well, you get the idea! Mark your calendar for the Reptile Festival on Saturday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.! $7 for adults ages 19-59 $5 for ages 3-18 and seniors 60+ FREE for ages under 3 ...

August 28, 2017

Dr Kal Ivanov, assistant curator of invertebrate zoology, connects to Ohio Northern University online with an insect diversity lecture, slideshow, and Q&A session with biology students!

August 28, 2017

We are proud to partner with the Dan River Basin Association and Trout in the Classroom to provide hands-on science education programs for students across the region.

August 26, 2017

FREE American Indian Family Day at Piedmont Arts until 1 p.m.! Only one block away from VMNH!

August 26, 2017

Dr. Elizabeth Moore, curator of archaeology, is providing a hands-on archaeology display inside the Harvest Foundation Hall of Ancient Life until 1 p.m. today! The special activity is in support of the free American Indian Family Day at Piedmont Arts (one block away from VMNH) today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

August 25, 2017

HEY GEOCACHING FANS! Lil' Clawd is missing his family and needs your help being reunited! Help Lil' Clawd by taking him to visit a living sloth and have his picture taken with it! This could be in a zoo, conservation center, or even in the wilds of South America...it's up to you! Be sure to visit www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=6523026 for details on how you can be part of the adventure!

August 24, 2017

One function of the museum you may not be familiar with is that it serves as a repository for many deceased animals for use in scientific research and collections purposes. For instance, when an animal at a wildlife refugee center passes away, the animal may be brought to the museum for scientific research purposes, including using the skeleton for comparative analyses. One of the freezers storing these animals broke recently and several staff from the museum's research and collections department are hurrying to prepare (i.e. "skin") as many of the animals as possible before they are no longer salvageable. It may not be glamorous and it's definitely not for the faint-hearted, but it must be done!

August 24, 2017

AMERICAN INDIAN FAMILY DAY AT PIEDMONT ARTS THIS SATURDAY! Be sure to stop by our friends at Piedmont Arts (also located on Starling Avenue) this Saturday for the FREE American Indian Family Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.! The event offers crafts, snacks and fun in celebration of the art of the American Indian! Click the link to learn more! After you have visited Piedmont Arts, be sure to stop by VMNH, as our Curator of Archaeology, Dr. Elizabeth Moore, will have a special display at VMNH that consists of a variety of archeological artifacts and tools for visitors to view! Additionally, the historic Martinsville-Henry County Courthouse in Uptown Martinsville will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as a bonus experience! A ...

August 23, 2017

Congratulations, Krystal!

August 22, 2017

VMNH paleontologist Alex Hastings is at the big paleontology conference (Society of Vertebrate Paleontology) in Calgary, Canada. Today was a trip to the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller to see some amazing dinosaurs, including the brand new Borealopelta!

August 22, 2017

The Virginia Museum of Natural History, along with representatives of the Dan River Basin Association and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, hosted a trout release for homeschool students on August 22, 2017 at the Smith River in Bassett, Virginia. The group started off by looking at benthic macro-invertebrates (bottom dwelling invertebrates that you can see with the naked eye), which included crayfish, mayfly larvae, and others. Next, they went to the water and used a seine net to see what they could find among the organic material caught in the net. Lastly, they released the trout that had been raised at the museum into the river.

August 21, 2017

We had a blast hosting a solar eclipse viewing today at the museum...we even had tailgaters in the parking lot! Thanks to a collaboration with Henry County Public Schools, we were able to give away solar eclipse viewing glasses to the first 100 visitors. We greatly appreciate everyone who waited patiently in line today and we thank you even more for sharing your glasses with those unable to receive a pair of their own!

August 21, 2017

Although the pic does not do the full eclipse and corona justice, you can see how close we were to getting clouded out! Even saw Bailey's beads at the 'NE edge' of the eclipse in the seconds before the sun burst back out... The VMNH eclipse chasers were treated well by nature!

August 21, 2017

About 10 min til total! Clouds, please stay away for just a little longer!

August 21, 2017

It's just getting blotted out...

August 21, 2017

Uh oh... some clouds have popped up. The sun was just getting blocked out at the 2 o'clock position.

August 21, 2017

The sun right before the eclipse begins in Pickens, SC!

August 21, 2017

The VMNH solar eclipse chase team has achieved Pickens, SC! And broke out the eclipse cookies... We hope everyone visiting the museum today gets a good look at a spectacular phenomenon this afternoon!

August 21, 2017

Made it to SC! About 50 miles to totality!

August 21, 2017

We've made it past Charlotte!

August 21, 2017

The VMNH eclipse chasers have departed 400AM. So far smooth sailing while approaching Winston-Salem...

August 18, 2017

Hey teachers and educators! The museum's 2017-18 Education Program Guide is now available online! VMNH excels at providing STEM-H educational programming to students of all ages and we hope we can be part of your curriculum plans this school year! Can't bring your students to the museum? Let us come to you! Museum educators will travel to provide programming inside your own classroom or you can connect remotely for a distance learning program! Download the guide today! (PDF - 6MB)

August 16, 2017

The museum hosted an open house for homeschool parents and families today from 10 a.m. to noon. Well over 100 participants from the region took advantage of the opportunity to meet the museum's educators, learn about the museum's homeschool educational offerings, and tour the museum's exhibits. If you are interested in learning more about the museum's homeschool education programs, be sure to visit www.vmnh.net/homeschool-education to learn how the museum can deliver engaging science and engineering themed programs to your student(s)!

August 16, 2017

The Virginia Museum of Natural History is pleased to announce that it will serve as a solar eclipse viewing venue on Monday, August 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the first 100 visitors receiving free eclipse viewing glasses. Additionally, the museum will offer free admission to its exhibit galleries for all visitors throughout the event. The eclipse viewing event is made possible through a collaboration between the museum and Henry County Public Schools. Eclipse viewing glasses will be available at the museum box office begining Monday, August 21 at 1 p.m. and will not be made available for reservation or pick-up in advance. Please note that the museum only has 100 glasses and no more will be available for purchase. ...

August 14, 2017

Due to an all-staff training exercise, the museum will open to the public at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 15. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

August 11, 2017

Check out the VMNH August e-Newsletter! From the recently opened special exhibit "Dinosaurs: Reign of the Giants" to the October 21 Reptile Festival, catch up on the latest VMNH news. To subscribe, please email information@vmnh.virginia.gov. We look forward to seeing you at the museum!

August 5, 2017

Congrats to the first place winners of the Mountain Valley Brewing cornhole tournament, Victor Milner and John Denton Sr.!

August 5, 2017

VMNH helping out with Mountain Valley Brewing to raise funds for Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge. Good work Krystal Davis!

August 5, 2017

Getting ready for the corn hole fundraiser at Mountain Valley Brewing! Fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge.

August 3, 2017

The VMNH paleo team & College of William & Mary wrapped up today from the Yorktown fossil whale dig, managed to carry out 2 jackets from this lovely whale. Even got a piece of turtle and a shark tooth from the jackets!

August 3, 2017

Dr. Nancy Moncrief, curator of mammalogy, is currently prototyping an interactive component for an exhibit that will be installed at the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County (North Carolina) this fall. To test the component, Dr. Moncrief has enlisted the services of several of the museum's summer camp participants!

August 3, 2017

Dr. Nancy Moncrief, curator of mammalogy, is currently prototyping an interactive component for an exhibit that will be installed at the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County (North Carolina) this fall. To test the component, Dr. Moncrief has enlisted the services of several of the museum's summer camp participants!

August 2, 2017

The VMNH paleo team had a successful day digging in Yorktown, VA, excavating a fossil whale with a crew from the Geology Dept at the College of William & Mary, good times with great fossils!

August 2, 2017

WE'RE HIRING! The Virginia Museum of Natural History is seeking a Quasi Full-Time Educator (32 hours per week with state benefits). As a VMNH Educator, you will join a vibrant education team to provide a wide variety of the museum's education and public programming, including programs at the museum, outreach, distance learning, after school, summer camps, and special events. Visit www.vmnh.net/careers to learn more!