Milestones
Where we’ve been, where we’re going.
| DATE | | MILESTONE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1936 - |
The Dallas Museum of Natural History was established in the historic Fair Park district as part of the Texas Centennial and was one of the first natural history museums in the region. | ||
1946 - |
The origins of The Science Place began when the Dallas Health Museum was founded in Dallas by a group chartered as the Dallas Academy of Medicine, “to provide a common channel of enthusiastic effort for all the forces of health in Dallas and the Southwest.” | ||
1958 - |
The Dallas Health Museum was renamed the Dallas Health and Science Museum. A sixty-seat, thirty-foot, domed planetarium was built and education programs were held in cooperation with local schools and universities. | ||
1981 - |
The Dallas Health and Science Museum was renamed The Science Place | ||
1986 - |
The Science Place expanded into the remodeled second building, which became known as the main building for The Science Place. | ||
1995 - |
The Dallas Children’s Museum was founded and served as a hands-on early childhood learning destination. | ||
2005 - |
4.7 acres were purchased in Victory Park, thanks to a $10-million gift from Hunt Petroleum. | ||
2006 - |
A unique merger of the three museums: the Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place and the Dallas Children’s Museum, results in a new institution: Museum of Nature & Science at Fair Park. | ||
2008, January 8 - |
Pritzker Prize winning Architect, Thom Mayne is announced as the designer of the new museum in Victory Park. | ||
2008, February 28 - |
T. Boone Pickens $10M gift announcement. | ||
2008, May 30 - |
The five children of Ross and Margot Perot — Katherine Perot Reeves, Carolyn Rathjen, Suzanne McGee, Nancy Perot Mulford and Ross Perot, Jr. — announce a $50-million gift made in honor of their parents. The museum will be named the Perot Museum of Nature & Science in their parents’ honor. | ||
2008, October 23 - |
Naming of and plans are unveiled for Tom Hunt Energy Hall in honor of a $10 million donation. | ||
2009, May 30 - |
Balfour Beatty Construction is announced as General Contractor. | ||
2009, September 17 - |
MNS unveils the schematic designs and building model for the new museum in Victory Park. | ||
2009, November 18 - |
Official groundbreaking ceremonies are held at the new Victory Park site, and excavation work begins. | ||
2010, April 26 - |
Construction begins, as Margot Perot and her daughters hand off the “notice to proceed” to Balfour Beatty, the general contractor for the Perot Museum of Nature & Science. | ||
2010, August 18 - |
Leadership Campaign Chair Forrest Hoglund announces the plan for the “Final Fifty” campaign to raise the remaining $50 million of the $185-million goal in an accelerated fashion. | ||
2011, January 20 - |
Announcement of a second major gift in two years from The Rees-Jones Foundation brings its total contribution to $25 million. Two major halls will be named in honor of the gift — The Rees-Jones Foundation Dynamic Earth Hall and the Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones Exhibit Hall. | ||
2011, February 28 - |
The announcement of a $10-million challenge grant from an anonymous donor. Inspired by the grant, Perot Museum leaders launch a community-wide fundraising campaign called, “Every Dollar Counts… Twice!” | ||
2011, March 10 - |
Official Topping Out Ceremonies are held at the building overlooking the Perot Museum construction site. | ||
2011, May 10 - |
Naming of and plans are unveiled for the Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall in honor of a $4.4 million donation from the Texas Instruments Foundation. | ||
2011, July 20 - |
Chase donates $1.4 million | ||
2011, September 14 - |
Wolfgang Puck Named as Exclusive Caterer for Perot Museum of Nature & Science | ||
2011, September 23 - |
Two $1M Challenge Grants from Highland Capital and Atmos Energy | ||
2011, October 13 - |
Event Network to Design and Operate New Retail Store at Museum | ||
2011, October 28 - |
Dinosaur discovery made by MNS paleontologists to be named in honor of Perot family and slated for display in new Perot Museum | ||
2011, November 3 - |
MNS 2011 "Night at the Museum" annual fundraising event sells out – proceeds to go toward Perot Museum campaign |
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2011, November 17 - |
MNS announces Moody grant and surpasses $185 million goal to build new Perot Museum more than one year |
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2012, February 2 - |
North Texas media got a first look at the Perot Museum of Nature & Science |
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