Mission
Statement
The purpose of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences is
to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of the natural
environment in ways that emphasize the biodiversity of North Carolina
and the southeastern United States and relate the region to the natural
world as a whole.
 Celebrating 125 years of Museum History |
The North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences was founded in 1879 by the N.C. General Assembly "to illustrate the agricultural and other resources and the natural history of the State." Today as it was in 1879, the Museum's mission is to educate the people of North Carolina. The focus has shifted during the past century from a multipurpose institution displaying agricultural and natural resources to a natural sciences museum concentrating on collecting and preserving the state's biological diversity, promoting environmental awareness, and relating the natural sciences to everyday life.
In
1895, the Museum hired its first curator (and later director), H.H. Brimley,
a dedicated and knowledgeable naturalist with special expertise in taxidermy.
Under Brimley's leadership, the Museum's collections grew dramatically.
Brimley not only added study skins of birds and mammals, but also mounted
animals in natural poses and settings, using the most innovative techniques
of the time. Among his many contributions are four articulated whale skeletons.
With his brother, C.S. Brimley, H.H. Brimley built a foundation of zoological
data for studies conducted in North Carolina today.
In 1937, Harry T. Davis succeeded Brimley as the Museum's director. A geologist, Davis provided leadership for archeological excavations and a statewide survey of archeological sites. He also presided over a major renovation and expansion of the Museum in the 1950s.
His successor, William L. Hamnett, director from 1966 to 1974, was the first to emphasize direct services to teachers and students. In focusing on science education, Hamnett installed the first interactive displays and reduced emphasis on agriculture.
John Funderburg, the fourth director (1974-1989), increased attention on natural sciences and transferred archaeological and anthropological materials to the neighboring N.C. Museum of History. During his tenure, the Museum began to concentrate on the region's biodiversity and its links to global environmental concerns.
Today, the Museum offers visitors a rich program of educational, scientific, and cultural experiences. Director Betsy Bennett (1990-present) has furthered the Museum's emphasis on education and its responsiveness to the diverse audiences it serves. Under her leadership, the Museum is making efforts to reach underserved preschoolers and minorities, including Native Americans. The Museum continues to upgrade the conservation of the state's zoological collections. Research activities and collections are being integrated into the broader educational mission. Dr. Bennett sees these programs as the strong foundation for innovative, interactive exhibits that appeal to people of all ages and educational levels.
The Museum of Natural Sciences was transferred from the N.C. Department of Agriculture to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 1993. DENR also oversees operation of the N.C. Zoo, the three state aquaria, the state parks system, and other divisions involved with natural resources.
With the support of top DENR officials, the Museum staff and the Friends of the Museum successfully campaigned the N.C. General Assembly in 1994 to appropriate $30.9 million in construction funds for the new museum building. In subsequent years, the General Assembly also appropriated $12.5 million for new exhibits and an additional $5 million for the building. The Museum's statewide capital campaign raised $22 million more for exhibits from public and private sources, bringing the total for the new building to $70.5 million.
The new Museum opened in April 2000, allowing visitors to experience for the first time in one place the richness and beauty of North Carolina's natural heritage.
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