Press Releases
 

The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News dedicated its Conservation Garden June 19, concluding Phase I of the Gateway to Nature Capital Campaign.

Goals of the first phase were to upgrade technology in the newly reopened Abbitt Planetarium and connect the two museum buildings with exhibits, conservation gardens and green space.  

Dedicated on Friday, June 19, were the following:

•    Goodson House, featuring green roofs, solar electric and water heating panels, geothermal heating and cooling, carbon footprint calculator and green materials exhibits
•    Walk-through Waterfall
•    Conservation Gardens featuring pondless waterfall, decorative gates, rain garden, composting exhibit, native plant gardens and wildlife habitat gardens.

Speaking during the ceremony, Charlie Banks said he and Mari Ann were glad to co-chair the capital campaign because "there were a whole lot of people behind us, supporting the museum," just as the community has supported the museum for more than 40 years, helping it to continue to grow and prosper.

Newport News Mayor Joe Frank emphasized the importance of the Virginia Living Museum to the quality of life in the city and how the museum needs continued support to keep growing.

Projects in Phase I totaled $2.2 million and also included the below amenities that were opened earlier:

•    The Virginia Garden, highlighting 400 years of Virginia's botanical history with plants used by native Americans and colonists
•    Wild Side Café and Terrace
•    Wason Amphitheater
•    Abbitt Planetarium
•    Upgraded planetarium lobby with a Magic Planet interactive exhibit

Recognized during the dedication ceremony for their contributions to the campaign were: Mr. and Mrs. George R. Goodson, Jr., Charlie and Mari Ann Banks (campaign co-chairs) and the Charles R. Spencer Family.

All of the goals of the capital campaign are part of the museum’s strategic plan adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2006.

Honorary campaign chairs are: Mrs. Hunter B. Andrews, Michael Petters, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Harry Wason.

Campaign co-chairs are Charlie and Mari Ann Banks. Members of the Leadership Committee are: Gordon Gentry, William M. Grace, John R. Lawson, Dr. John Q.A. Mattern II, Donald N. Patten, Conway H. Sheild III, James B. Thomas, Jr., Harry H. Wason, Joseph R. Witt and Charles W. Wornom. Wornom is chair of the Major Gifts Committee.

The museum has put the remainder of the $5 million campaign on hold to concentrate on an amazing opportunity to pay off the remaining $9 million debt from its 2000-2004 capital campaign that built the present 62,000 sq. ft. museum building. The museum financed part of the construction costs after committed state funding for the capital project never materialized. An anonymous donor has offered an extraordinary matching gift. The donor has pledged $6 million if the museum can raise $3 million by Dec. 31, 2009.

The Virginia Living Museum is a private, non-profit museum and education center that has been in operation since 1966.

The museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, I64, exit 258A.

Admission is $15 adults and $12 children (ages 3-12). Children ages 2 and under are free.

For more information call 757-595-1900 or visit the web site at www.thevlm.org.

-30-