GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Powell Hall and its public exhibitions, including the “Butterfly Rainforest,” are temporarily closed for a large-scale expansion project.

“This is an unprecedented experience for all of us. We welcome the opportunity to engage with the community in new ways during the renovation and look forward to sharing the improved Florida Museum exhibition building with visitors when we reopen,” said Florida Museum director Douglas S. Jones.

rendering of front of building
This rendering shows the planned addition to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s façade. Plans are subject to change.

The museum will continue to maintain an active and engaging presence in the area during the closure with a variety of unique off-site educational programs. Department of natural history research staff members, including 31 faculty members and hundreds of employees, will be unaffected by the construction project, and regular activities will continue in all 18 collections in Dickinson Hall, the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, and the Special Collections Building, which are not open to the public.

The expansion will update the building’s facade, classrooms and expand the Collectors Shop. A new exhibit space will focus on the value of science exploration and the importance of life on Earth through self-directed exploration and interactions with scientists. A two-story addition to the west side of Powell Hall will see the creation of additional offices and educational spaces for the Thompson Earth Systems Institute and the museum’s education department.

rendering of building and trees
The roughly 6,000 square-foot addition to the west side of Powell Hall will host offices, educational spaces and the University of Florida’s Thompson Earth Systems Institute. Plans are subject to change.

“In the meantime, science doesn’t stop, and we are as busy as ever. We’re excited to work with our partners to keep inspiring and educating the public at events around Alachua County,” Jones said. “From farmers markets to libraries, you never know where the Florida Museum will be showing up next.”

The upcoming off-site public events for the Florida Museum include:

April:

  • Every Monday in April – Science Surprises at the High Springs Alachua County Library District branch
  • Every Thursday in April – Science Surprises at Alachua County Library District Headquarters
  • Every Friday in April – Science Surprises at the Library Partnership Alachua County Library District branch
  • April 10 – Pop-up Museum: Pollinators at Marston Science Library
  • April 11 – Spring Plant Sale at the UF Cultural Plaza
  • April 14 – Pop-up Museum: Pollinator Pals at the Grove Street Farmers Market

May:

  • Every Tuesday in May – Science Surprises at the Hawthorne Alachua County Library District branch
  • May 2 – Library Showcase: Spectacular Shells at Alachua County Library District Headquarters
  • May 3 – Museum in the Parks: Frogs at Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
  • May 8, 15, 22 and 29 – Science Surprises at Archer Alachua County Library District branch
  • May 9, 16, 23 and 30 – Science Surprises at Tower Road Alachua County Library District branch
  • May 12 – Pop-up Museum at the Grove Street Farmers Market

For more information about the expansion, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/visit/expansion.

For more information about the museum’s upcoming events, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/calendar.

rendering
This rendering shows the upgrades to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s lobby and Collectors Shop. Plans are subject to change.

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Writer: Nikhil Srinivasan, nsrinivasan@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Sources: Douglas S. Jones, dsjones@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Kaitlin Gardiner, kgardiner@floridamuseum.ufl.edu