Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Impact Statement

The Museum annually serves over 1.3 million people both on and off site, including 300,000 students, teachers, and adult chaperones through its school programs and over 94,000 people during its 12 SCFD Community Free Days. We maintain and serve a membership base of more than 60,000 households. In 2013, hundreds of thousands of visitors came to the Museum to enjoy our travelling exhibitions, Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age (February 15 through May 27) and MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition (October 11 through January 5, 2014). Visitors also continued to engage in relevant informal science education through visits to our permanent exhibitions such as Prehistoric Journey, Expedition Health, and Space Odyssey; IMAX and Planetarium shows; historic diorama halls; and educational and community programs including on-site classes, adult lectures, teacher professional development, children's workshops, outreach, and distance learning. The Museum's 15 PhD curators continued to make real scientific discoveries and lead active research in the field and the laboratory. In 2012, our curators conducted research on all seven continents and throughout the United States and authored or co-authored 30 scholarly publications. In 2013, Museum curators are mentoring 31 teens through the Teen Science Scholars program, designed to give teens an intensive summer research experience and encourage them to pursue college degrees and careers in science.

In 2014, the Museum will continue to provide people of all ages with a place to discover their inner scientist through memorable moments that spark curiosity and excite the imagination. The transformation on the south side of the building is almost complete, and we look forward to serving our visitors in the new space beginning Valentine's Day 2014. The three-level Morgridge Family Exploration Center is dedicated to a new Discovery Zone for young children; a second gallery for traveling exhibitions; and engaging science studios for 21st-century learners. Ongoing planning and development has taken place throughout 2013 in preparation for the opening. Efforts include the creation of interactive shows for the new Discovery Zone, launch of new Field Trip Adventures for school and youth groups, re-imagining our children's programs and summer camps, and creating a new experiential science show called Science on the Fly for general visitors. The new Rocky Mountain Science Collections Center will become a consolidated, climate-controlled home for the Museum's vast collections in two underground levels in the new addition-each the size of a football field.

Background Statement

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science provides rich opportunities for informal science education through offering a variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities to help visitors experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. Founded in 1900 by a group of Denver citizens interested in preserving the natural history of the Rocky Mountain region, the Museum first opened to the public in 1908. The Museum continues to evolve, expanding in both size and breadth of activities, as its exhibits, programs, research, and collections offer endless opportunities for discovery.

Executive Director Statement

Since opening its doors more than 100 years ago, the Museum has grown and evolved to meet the changing interests of the community. We see every day how the science education the Museum provides-both through the hands-on, inquiry-based opportunities for students and professional development for teachers-critically supplements what kids learn during the school day and makes possible experiences that they could not have within the walls of the traditional classroom. We are integral partners with our local school districts in creating a scientifically literate community. As the largest natural history museum in the Rocky Mountain region, our scientists serve as subject matter experts; they are entrusted to study, analyze, preserve, and educate. Our mission is to inspire curiosity and excite minds of all ages through scientific discovery and the presentation and preservation of the world's unique treasures.

Board Chair/President Statement

For generations, the Museum has been committed to serving our community and sparking people's natural curiosity. Thanks to generous community support, the Museum has tackled enormous challenges so it may continue to grow and serve Denver and the region. Construction on the new 126,000 square foot wing continues, and plans for advancing the innovative spirit and state-of-the-art facilities for preservation of artifacts are being realized. Schoolchildren enjoying free admission fill the halls, classrooms, and exhibits. Planning is underway to re-imagine the school group experience through all-new Field Trip Adventures beginning in 2014. Professional and citizen scientists are conducting new and engaging research. There is much for visitors, educators, grandparents, parents, adults, and children to look forward to experiencing at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Needs Statement

Your support of the ongoing operations of the Museum will (1) ensure access for all individuals to our youth and adult education programs, (2) aid our conservation efforts of rare artifacts and specimens, (3) advance scientific research, (4) permit diverse and accessible scientific engagement for our community; and (5) allow the Museum to host world class travelling and permanent exhibitions for the Denver metro and Colorado communities.

If you would like to purchase or renew a membership, please visit the membership page on our website, http://www.dmns.org/join/. We are unable to process memberships through Colorado Gives.