The Florida Museum of Natural History is embarking on a large-scale expansion project that will see Powell Hall and its public exhibitions temporarily close beginning Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
This expansion to the front of the building addresses long-standing needs and will allow the institution to better serve the community through new state-of-the-art exhibition and learning spaces, an updated modern façade, renovated and expanded guest services, and a larger collector’s shop.
The Florida Museum anticipates re-opening in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The expansion at Powell Hall will largely be contained to the front half of the building. A new, interactive exhibit space will focus on the Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s (TESI) exploration of and communication about the interconnectivity of air, water, land and life on Earth. The classrooms will be modernized, and the collector’s shop will be expanded to increase the footprint for new merchandise selections for visitors. The lobby area, front desk and restrooms in the Central Gallery will also be renovated. The museum’s Fossil Plant Garden will be incorporated into the new exhibit space and the outdoor picnic tables will be replaced with a new seating area. The Florida Wildflower Garden Path will be inaccessible during the early phases of construction.
The museum’s Research and Collection facilities including Dickinson Hall, the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, and the Special Collections Building will be unaffected by construction and regular activities will continue in all three buildings, which are not open to the public.
A temporary closure starting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, is necessary to ensure visitor safety and to prevent a negative visitor experience; it will also significantly shorten the length of the expansion project, allowing the museum to reopen sooner. With extensive construction activities taking place throughout the project, including demolition of the front of the building, providing a safe entrance and egress for visitors is not possible. Therefore, it is not operationally prudent to keep the museum open.
The Florida Museum’s membership program is still in effect during the expansion and members will continue to receive the following benefits:
- Invitations to private member events held offsite during the closure
- Discounts and early registration for ticketed museum programs
- ASTC Passport program reciprocal benefits at 300+ museums worldwide
- Special “members only” communications, including updates about the project
- Free admission to the Randell Research Center and Calusa Heritage Trail in Pineland, Florida
- Knowing they are continuing their support for the Florida Museum of Natural History! Membership gifts impact every aspect of the museum – from its thriving research enterprise to the programs, exhibits and transformational projects like this expansion.
The following permanent exhibits will be deep-cleaned and refreshed during the closure but will otherwise be unaffected by the expansion: Butterfly Rainforest, Discovery Zone, the Wall of Wings and indoor butterfly exhibits, Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life & Land, Exploring Our World, Our Energy Future and South Florida People & Environments.
As a living exhibit, the Butterfly Rainforest will continue to be maintained by staff during the closure. Shipments of new butterflies will be paused starting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. All other animals and plants will be cared for throughout the duration of the construction project.
On Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, the Florida Museum began rejuvenating its temporary exhibit gallery to upgrade components and technology. The upgrades — including state-of-the-art lighting equipment, new flooring and other enhancements — will boost energy efficiency, ambient lighting and visibility for objects on display. This crucial update will allow the museum to strengthen the infrastructure supporting changing exhibitions. This update is anticipated to be completed in fall 2024; a new temporary exhibit will go on display once the museum reopens in 2026.
While the physical doors of the Florida Museum’s exhibit hall will be temporarily closed, the museum will continue to have a dynamic, ongoing presence in the community, bringing new and expanded programming and engagement opportunities to audiences outside its walls. Some of the program possibilities include wildlife-friendly plant sales, lively pop-up exhibitions and engaging outreach opportunities.
Visit our calendar to stay up to date on the Florida Museum’s events.
Volunteer opportunities in Research and Collections within the Natural History department will continue. Current volunteers within the Exhibits and Public Programs department will work with their supervisors to find alternative roles during construction.
Many staff members whose duties are not directly tied to visitor services will remain unaffected by the closure, with temporary modifications to their roles as needed. The employment of two dozen hourly front-line visitor services staff will end on Jan. 6, 2025, as these positions will be paused during this closure.