Missouri’s first natural history museum is expanding.
On October 29, the Missouri Institute of Natural Sciences held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new multipurpose classroom that will allow the museum to expand its educational footprint by serving approximately 5,000 students annually.
Matt Forir, museum director and board chair, said the new classrooms will allow visitors to view the facility and exhibits separately from student outings, provide space for events and public lectures, and provide the museum’s mineral resources. He said the collection will be expanded.
“It really helps expand what the museum can do,” said Forrill, who is also a geologist with the Greene County Environmental Department. “Over the last few years, as we continued to excavate the world’s largest dinosaurs and most complete dinosaurs, and as we continued to bring in more materials, the size of our classrooms decreased.”
Missouri Institute of Natural Sciences trustees and members of the Greene County Commission will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a multipurpose classroom planned for the museum on Oct. 29, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Jack McGee)
Expansion scheduled for completion in 2025
The new classroom will be built on the northeast corner of the museum at 2327 W. Farm Road 190 in Greene County, adding approximately 2,500 square feet to the 5,000 square foot facility.
The total cost of the project has not yet been determined, but board treasurer Barbara Hauser said the nonprofit had previously considered spending about $200,000 on the project and has received grants so far. Approximately $125,000 has been raised through donations and private donations.
“Anything that we keep putting up could be used in electronics, it could be used in screens, it could be used in sound systems, it could be used in flooring, it could be used in all sorts of things,” said Matt’s wife. said Samantha Forir, who is also a member of the board of directors.
A multipurpose classroom will be constructed in the northeast corner of the museum. (Photo courtesy of Missouri Institute of Natural Sciences) The new multipurpose classroom will add 2,500 square feet to the facility. (Photo provided by Missouri Institute of Natural Sciences)
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, if not sooner. In addition to new classrooms, which will be the museum’s second expansion, the institute will also add parking.
Similar to the day-to-day operations of the Institute, which has one full-time and two part-time employees, the classroom will be partially constructed by volunteers, with no contractors on the project.
History of the Natural History Museum
The Missouri Institute of Natural Sciences was founded in 2003, two years after geologists discovered River Bluff Cave, the oldest Ice Age fossil cave site in the United States.
Missouri Institute of Natural Sciences, 2327 W. Farm Road 190, is near River Bluff Caverns, the oldest fossilized cave site in the United States. (Photo by Jack McGee)
This cave contains geological formations, fossils, claw marks, and trails left behind by animals that lived during the Pleistocene era. The cave was designated a Greene County Historic Site in 2023.
In addition to the institute’s educational purposes, the nonprofit organization is proud of the caves as well as the fossils, minerals, and artifacts on display at the museum, including the largest Triceratops fossil on record, discovered in Wyoming in 2013. We are also working on the preservation and protection of
Although the cave is closed to the public, admission to the museum, which has hosted 350,000 visitors over the years, is free. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Henry the Triceratops. The largest Triceratops fossil ever discovered is on display at the Missouri Institute of Natural Sciences. (Photo courtesy of Jack McGee)
Jack McGee
Jack McGee is a government reporter for the Springfield Daily Citizen. He previously covered politics and business for the Daily Citizen. He graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in political science. Contact jmcgee@sgfcitizen.org or (417) 837-3663. Jack McGee Other works
