Donate and Support | Special Projects

Realizing the full potential of the Museum requires enthusiastic supporters and committed partners. Investments to support our annual fund as well as special projects such as exhibit fabrication, educational programs, and maintenance are critical to our success.

We are seeking donors and partners for the following projects:

The Dinosaur Trail
Small Science
Investigate Health!

Dinosaur Trail

The Museum is currently raising funds to bring back this popular family activity to Durham. Local families have fond memories of the Museum’s previous Dinosaur Trail. Opened in 1967, the old Dinosaur Trail was overtaken by new scientific findings, weakened by time, and finally damaged by Hurricane Fran. Now, forty years of scientific discovery in paleontology provides a unique opportunity for a new Dinosaur Trail.

The Dinosaur Trail is partially funded by a Durham County bond investment of $675,000.

The Museum is now in a campaign to bring the Dinosaur Trail to life by raising an additional $815,000 in private sector funds (see Dinosaur Trail Campaign funding chart PDF). There are only three dinosaurs left to sponsor!

You can help us bring this amazing exhibit to the Museum by sponsoring a dinosaur, a bench, or a brick.

For more information about the exhibit, please view our Dinosaur Trail Proposal (PDF) or read about support opportunities with our Buy a Brick Program (PDF).

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For more information about sponsoring a dinosaur, please contact:
Julie Ketner Rigby, VP for External Relations
Julie.rigby@ncmls.org
(919) 220-5429 x317

For more information about our Buy a Brick Program, please contact:
Laura Hayden, Director of the Annual Fund
laura.hayden@ncmls.org
(919) 220-5429 x352

Small Science

This nearly 20-year-old space for our youngest visitors is due – in fact, overdue – for an update. Thanks to a challenge grant of $20,000 from the Michael and Laura Brader-Araje Foundation, the Museum will be making significant improvements to our Small Science area.

The Small Science refurbishment has begun!
But we still need help from members and friends to meet this exciting match challenge from Michael and Laura Brader-Araje, who know first-hand the importance of this project as Museum members with small children.

Our plans for the exhibit include:

• Expand the area by moving the current wall to better serve more young families
• Replace the carpet that has endured years of bubble-making overflow and heavy traffic
• Install new surfaces for improved cleanliness
• Install new activity stations to engage little hands and minds
• Provide seating and better accommodation for caregivers, including a niche for breastfeeding moms

Please consider a contribution to support the Small Science challenge project. Your participation at whatever level is suitable for you by the end of the calendar year will help us realize this project. Whatever you decide to give is tax-deductible, and will be matched, so your support is doubly important for families and children in our area.

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For more information about our Small Science project, please contact:
Julie Ketner-Rigby
Julie.rigby@ncmls.org
(919) 220-5429 x317

Investigate Health!

Opening in late 2007, this 2,100-square-foot indoor exhibit will allow visitors to explore the science behind some of today’s major health issues, discover that individual choice impacts well-being, and explore health science careers.

Investigate Health! is largely funded by a nearly $1 million Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) made by the National Institutes of Health. This exhibit was also made possible by the following donors:

• The Cannon Foundation
• National Science Foundation
• Durham Regional Hospital, a member of the Duke Medical System
• NC Healthy Schools
• Junior League of Durham and Orange Counties

To provide the best possible experience, the Museum continues to seek support for Investigate Health! Please read "The Investigate Health! Experience: How Will It Work" (PDF) for more information.