CLEVELAND—November 15, 2023—During the recent Ribbon Cutting ceremony unveiling the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s new Visitor Hall, Museum President & CEO Sonia Winner announced that an anonymous couple has come forward with a bid to name the Museum’s newest space.
While the donors are pledging $10 million for the naming rights, they are hoping to inspire and challenge the Northeast Ohio community to raise an additional $10 million or more to help the Museum successfully close its campaign by the grand opening in late 2024. The anonymous couple will relinquish the naming rights to the donor(s) who meet their challenge. The stunning 14,650-square-foot Visitor Hall that greets all Museum guests upon arrival is a premier naming opportunity within the Museum. Only three donors have committed $10 million or more in the Museum’s 103-year history.
According to the anonymous couple, “The Visitor Hall is a free space for all visitors that showcases stellar specimens that are not only scientifically groundbreaking but that are important to the story of the Museum and Cleveland. The naming rights for this space creates an amazing opportunity to show support of an enduring gift to our community.”
The completion of the Visitor Hall marks the latest step in the Museum’s current transformation and expansion. The Museum’s most iconic specimens, each uniquely tied to the city of Cleveland, are now featured in a dramatic setting that will remain free to the public and serve as the heart of the reimagined natural history museum. Among the eight featured specimens in the Visitor Hall is Balto, the heroic sled dog, sponsored by The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation, was rescued and brought to Cleveland in 1927 by businessman George Kimble with funds raised by Cleveland residents. Specimens of “Happy” the Haplocanthosaurus delfsi, “Dunk,” Ohio’s state fossil fish, and Lucy, the early human ancestor, were all discovered during digs by Museum scientists. And the exhibit of gems from the collection of Jeptha Homer Wade II, grandson of the Cleveland industrialist and benefactor, illustrates the role of local collectors in the Museum’s legacy.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Transformation Project
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million transformation project is an unprecedented reinvention that will align the Museum’s architecture with its mission of instilling a passion for nature and science in all learners. The Transforming the World of Discovery campaign has raised more than $132 million for this project, which will expand the Museum's building to more than 375,000 square feet and its outdoor visitor areas to more than 2 acres. The transformation project aims to broaden community access and help all stakeholders understand their connection with the natural world and the relevance of science to their daily lives. The latest milestone in this project was the opening in October 2023 of a welcoming new Visitor Hall, a free community space that showcases eight of the Museum’s most iconic objects and specimens. This dramatic, 14,650-square-foot gallery features ceilings that soar to 21 feet and stunning new exhibits placed along the Douglas McCreery and Dr. Laurie McCreery Timeline of the Earth, which marks key events in the history of the Universe. Slated for completion in late 2024, the Museum’s transformation encompasses a complete reimagining of the Museum campus and all its exhibits. Pioneering a new model for natural history museums, the redesigned exhibits will highlight the Museum’s world-class assets while reflecting its role as a trusted community resource. The Museum appreciates the generous support from community members, corporations, foundations, and government grants that has helped to make this transformation a reality.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contact
Samantha Guenther
External Communications Manager
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
216.403.4557
sguenther@cmnh.org
