DALLAS – A Dallas museum has finalized plans to purchase about 4 acres at the northwest corner of Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Field Street for the new Museum of Nature & Science building.
In addition, a $10 million gift from Hunt Petroleum Foundation to the Dallas Museum of Natural History Association will help fund the museum that will be from 150,000 to 200,000 square feet, five times the exhibit and program space in its facility at Fair Park. Construction will probably begin in about three years, contingent upon funding, although it could start sooner, said Monica Contreras, the museum’s director of marketing. The 4.66 acres are near the future Trinity River Corridor Project, the Arts District, the planned Victory development, the West End and other popular attractions including the Sixth Floor Museum. “This is a major milestone for natural history for downtown Dallas,” said Nicole Small, chief executive of the Dallas Museum of Natural History. “We have the opportunity to build a type of museum in Dallas that does not exist today.” Small said many large exhibits that travel the country will now be able to visit Dallas. Hunt Petroleum CEO John Creecy said his company is honored to be a part of the project. “Educating our youth on the importance of earth sciences and the roles science and natural history play in shaping our lives and our environment is a mission we are proud to endorse,” Creecy said in a news release. “Our future depends upon our children and their interest in science.”News Article | 2/17/2005