The Museum of Life and Science’s Campaign to Bring Dinosaurs Back to Durham Now Over $1 million - DURHAM, N.C.

The Museum of Life and Science’s Campaign to Bring Dinosaurs Back to Durham Now Over $1 million
Posted: 07-26-2007 : DURHAM, N.C.

DURHAM, N.C. -- Museum visitors young and old are anxiously awaiting the new Dinosaur Trail. Many local families have fond memories of the Museum’s original dinosaur trail. Opened in 1967, the old dinosaur trail was ravaged by time and finally mostly destroyed by Hurricane Fran. Now, forty years of scientific discovery in paleontology provides a unique opportunity for a new Dinosaur Trail that will delight and educate visitors of all ages.

The Museum of Life and Science’s Dinosaur Trail Campaign has now secured over $1 million in cash and pledges – or 74% of the campaign goal of $1.49 million. As remaining funds are secured, the Museum can begin the process of fabrication and installation on the new Trail.

The Campaign Committee is working to raise the remaining $400,000 by the end of this year. The Campaign is chaired by David Pottenger, and volunteer leadership includes Virginia Rand Bowman, Denise Carr, John Messick, Sam Nichols, Quinn O’Brien, and George Quick.

“So far, we have had a truly warm response from donors”, said David Pottenger, campaign chairman and chairman of the Museum’s board of directors. “Families, foundations and corporations are signing on to sponsor individual dinosaurs and displays – this is a fun campaign because people remember walking the old trail, and they want to see the Dinosaur Trail come back to the Museum.”

Why support the Dinosaur Trail? Mark and Cindy Kuhn, who are generously funding the tyrannosaur, recognize the need to support science education. “We need the creativity, energy and imagination of young people to be applied to science and technology, and that journey begins with a wonder for the natural world. We hope that the next generations of children across North Carolina will have the experience that our own children had when they walked the old dinosaur trail. We do this in honor of Doug and Elinor Moreton, who nurtured this love in their children and grandchildren.”

The first major contributors to the new Dinosaur Trail, the Fox Family Foundation and the Beischer Family, also want to share this learning experience with others. “I grew up going there and having a great time on the old trail, and we think it’s critical for the Museum to have a new trail. This will help the Museum continue to be an excellent learning resource for Durham and for our region”, said Dave Beischer.

The new Dinosaur Trail will offer 22 life-like dinosaur models, and feature recognition for donors. Thanks to support from 2003 Durham County bond funds of $675,000, the Museum has been able to do the site work for the trail, so donor funds are now needed for the dinosaurs, for the fossil dig site and for benches along the trail. Dinosaurs are available for “adoption” to recognize contributions of $10,000 to $100,000.

Dinosaur Trail donors to date include:

Mark and Cindy Kuhn, Tyrannosaur
Fox Family Foundation/Beischer Family, Parasaurolophus
David and Heather Yeowell, Styracosaurus
The Carr Family, Stygimoloch
SunTrust, Maisaur nest
Patricia Kohler, Maiasaur nest
Durham Merchants Association Charitable Foundation, First Citizens, The Pottenger Family, The Cooperberg Family and C.M. Herndon Foundation, Leptoceratops exhibit

The dinosaurs on the trail represent North American species from the Cretaceous period of 65 to 75 million years ago. Dinosaurs will range from the largest specimen, an Alamosaurus almost 60 feet long, to the 6-foot long Leptoceratops. Other species include a Maiasaur nest, depicting the latest findings that this species cared for its young (the name means “good mother lizard”), as well as a herd of Edmontonia, large, tank-like armored dinosaurs.

To learn more about the Dinosaur Trail Campaign, including how to sponsor a dinosaur and illustrations of the species for the trail, log on to www.lifeandscience.org. Donors of $300 and $500 can also buy a brick for the new Dinosaur Trail, and have their brick and engraved message placed in the trail.

If you want to see dinosaurs now, the Museum is offering a special exhibit, Dinosaur Studio: The Remaking of Dinosaur Trail, open through Labor Day. In this special indoor exhibit, visitors can see how the scientifically-accurate, life size dinosaur models are created, and track the campaign’s progress. The exhibit recreates a dinosaur fabrication studio, allowing visitors to witness the behind-the-scenes process of making the large dinosaur models for the outdoor Dinosaur Trail. Four dinosaurs that will be part of the trail are on display in the Dinosaur Studio.

The Museum of Life and Science
433 Murray Avenue, Durham, NC 27704
www.lifeandscience.org

The Museum of Life and Science’s mission is to create a place of lifelong learning where people, from young child to senior citizen, embrace science as a way of knowing about themselves, their community and their world.

Monday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm; Sunday Noon-5:00pm
General Admission: $9.50 adult, $7.50 children age 3-12;
$8.50 seniors 65+ or active military; free for children age two and younger.
Annual Membership offering unlimited admission and more from $65 to $145.