ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – On Sunday, museum goers are invited to bid a temporary farewell to a beloved gem in the Albuquerque metro. “It’s really just a chance for people to come and see their favorite parts of the museum one last time before we close for our seven-month renovation,” shared Sarah Bush, CEO of the New Mexico Museum of History and History Foundation.
The museum, which was founded in 1988, brings visitors on a journey to the stars and through New Mexico’s past, from the formation of the universe to the present day. “We know there are a lot of our community members who’ve not yet seen our new Ancient Life exhibit, which we’re in now. It has 300 fossils from all over New Mexico, and so we’re excited to feature that as well as the beloved aspects of our museum that people know and love,” emphasized Bush.
This is the museum’s first major facility renovation in decades. The nearly $4 million will go towards a redesigned entrance, box office, and gift shop, as well as new skylights.
Museum staff say that although it was a difficult decision to close the museum, it was needed.
“It’s critical that we replace those skylights before they start to fail, and also the sewer line that is original to the building. So it has run its lifespan and needs to be replaced, so we’re just taking
advantage of this time in order to also renovate the lobby and make a better experience for our visitors,” shared Shannon Bay, Deputy Director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
The good news is the public won’t have to wait that long to be able to get their fill of prehistoric dinosaurs or ancient sharks. The museum plans to put exhibits on wheels.
“We have an RV that we’re outfitting with an exhibition on the geologic time of New Mexico, so that will be also out in the community, and it will make a premiere at the State Fair in September,” said Bay. They plan to station that RV at other museums and even bring it to schools while renovations are completed.
Museum staff are reassuring guests that they won’t be getting rid of any exhibits. They are actually adding new ones, which include an interactive sun and mammal exhibit.
