A huge turnout Sunday showed how much the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has meant over the years, and how much it will be missed for the next seven months.With the museum about to begin the first major renovation in its 40-year history, its closing was, above all, a cause for celebration and appreciation.Shayrice Harper, who had gone to the museum throughout her childhood, was there with her son, with whom she had visited the museum many times.”It’s always been a staple of mine to come here and learn more about dinosaurs whenever there’s a new exhibit,” Harper said. “And I got to bring my son here ever since he was little, too, so it’s more like a family tradition now. And he loves dinosaurs just as much as I do.”Of special fascination for Harper has been the oceanic exhibit, which tells the story of how the high desert of New Mexico was once underwater millions of years ago.”Just thinking about how far the sea has come is amazing, because you would never think our oceans were so extremely developed,” Harper said. “The ecosystem has become so complex, and I love that. I love seeing the growth of our state — not just our state, but our whole world.”Also amazing to Harper was the size of the multi-generational crowd that turned out on Sunday.”I expected a lot of people, but there are a lot more people than I thought,” Harper said. “But it’s great because you could see everyone else so excited about not only the closure, but the reopening next year.”Harper said she would like to come to the reopening, at which time she will have had another child.”So I’m hoping we will be able to come and continue my little tradition of showing our kids the museum,” Harper said.
A huge turnout Sunday showed how much the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science has meant over the years, and how much it will be missed for the next seven months.
With the museum about to begin the first major renovation in its 40-year history, its closing was, above all, a cause for celebration and appreciation.
Shayrice Harper, who had gone to the museum throughout her childhood, was there with her son, with whom she had visited the museum many times.
“It’s always been a staple of mine to come here and learn more about dinosaurs whenever there’s a new exhibit,” Harper said. “And I got to bring my son here ever since he was little, too, so it’s more like a family tradition now. And he loves dinosaurs just as much as I do.”
Of special fascination for Harper has been the oceanic exhibit, which tells the story of how the high desert of New Mexico was once underwater millions of years ago.
“Just thinking about how far the sea has come is amazing, because you would never think our oceans were so extremely developed,” Harper said. “The ecosystem has become so complex, and I love that. I love seeing the growth of our state — not just our state, but our whole world.”
Also amazing to Harper was the size of the multi-generational crowd that turned out on Sunday.
“I expected a lot of people, but there are a lot more people than I thought,” Harper said. “But it’s great because you could see everyone else so excited about not only the closure, but the reopening next year.”
Harper said she would like to come to the reopening, at which time she will have had another child.
“So I’m hoping we will be able to come and continue my little tradition of showing our kids the museum,” Harper said.
