The Florida Museum of Natural History is celebrating its 100-year anniversary as the official state natural history museum with a series of special events this year.

On Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, the museum will host a gala from 6 to 11 p.m. at Powell Hall on the University of Florida campus, with dinner, live entertainment and dancing.

Other anniversary weekend activities include a public presentation featuring National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore, who will speak at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, April 21 at 8 p.m.

An exclusive birthday party for museum members is planned for Tuesday, May 30.

New exhibits include the permanent “Beverly and Jon Thompson Discovery Zone” scheduled to open July 17 and provide an opportunity for young visitors and their families to discover and learn together, as well as a museum-produced special anniversary exhibition, titled “Rare, Beautiful & Fascinating: 100 Years @FloridaMuseum,” scheduled to open Sept. 23. The temporary featured exhibit explores the key role museum collections play in telling the story of life on Earth.

The Florida Museum traces its roots to the 1890s as part of Florida Agricultural College in Lake City, where the first specimens were collected and used for teaching. In 1906, the collections were moved and the museum was established on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.

The celebration marks the anniversary of the museum’s designation as the state’s official natural history museum and Florida’s first state-legislated cultural institution. Formerly known as the Florida State Museum, it was established on May 30, 1917.

In the last 100 years, the museum’s collections have grown to more than 40 million specimens and artifacts. The collections serve as an invaluable resource for worldwide scientific research addressing critical issues including biodiversity, climate change, invasive species, water and air quality, and cultural heritage and change.

For more information, contact Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu or 352-273-2054.

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Writer: Elizabeth Brown, 352-273-2034, ebrown@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu