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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:

Brontosaurus Repair

The Dinosaur Trail
Small Science
Investigate Health!

 

Click here to support the repair of the Brontosaurus

bronto smaller



Dinosaur Trail

Thanks to a public-private partnership, the Museum and the community have raised the nearly $1.5 million required to build the new Dinosaur Trail. The Trail will open July 25.

Capital support for the Dinosaur Trail comes from $675,000 in Durham County bond funds and over $700,000 in private contributions.

 

There is one dinosaur left for "adoption"! If you are interested in supporting the Trail by sponsoring the Edmontonia, please contact us.


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


Edmontonia--------------------

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

Play to Learn

In 2007, the Museum's special space for visitors ages 6 and younger was in urgent need of an update after 20 years of constant use. Today, thanks to a challenge grant of $20,000 from the Michael and Laura Brader-Araje Foundation and community support to meet the challenge, the Museum has a larger, dynamic space for our youngest visitors.

The Museum hosted over 25,000 young children under 3 years old in 2008! And one of the attractions was the new Play to Learn exhibit, featuring updated exhibits to engage young hands and minds and improved amenities for parents or caregivers.

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Investigate Health!

Investigate Health! is a new 2,100-square-foot indoor exhibit that enables 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.

The capital costs for this new exhibit were provided by a nearly $1 million Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) made by the National Institutes of Health and nearly $200,000 in contributions. Donors to Investigate Health! include:

  • 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
A centerpiece of the Investigate Health exhibit is The Lab, where you can do hands-on experiments. Operating costs for staff and materials are nearly $90,000 annually. The Museum encourages you to consider supporting the Lab to provide authentic, hands-on science for families and visiting school groups in our area.