NHM Commons, the new wing at Los Angeles’ Natural History Museum, is opening to the public this weekend with a free block party.
Found on the southwest side of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County campus in Exposition Park, NHM Commons is a $75 million expansion and renovation project.
It includes 75,000 square feet of renovated and new spaces, with accessible outdoor areas, a 400-seat multi-purpose theatre, a new café, and updated retail offerings. The wing is designed with transparent glass so people can see inside.
Highlights include the 75-foot dinosaur skeleton Gnatalie – the most complete sauropod skeleton on the West Coast, and the world’s first green dinosaur fossil to be mounted for display.
On Sunday (17 November), NHM Commons will open to the public alongside various free indoor and outdoor events at the new wing and throughout the rest of the museum.
The block party on the new community plaza includes food trucks and music, while the new NHM Commons Theater will host a day of live events, including performances and discussions about art and science.
There will also be programming across the museum, including hands-on workshops with local art organisations in the Nature Gardens, a behind-the-scenes look at specimens, artefacts and the latest exhibitions in the grand foyer, and interactive experiences in the Nature Lab.
“With the opening of NHM Commons, we welcome everyone to enjoy special indoor and outdoor experiences in this new destination for Exposition Park and connect with our research and collections,” said Lori Bettison-Varga, the museum’s president and director.
NHM Commons launch
“We are grateful to our advisory groups and community partners for collaborating with us to envision innovative ways we can continue to be a resource for our community.
“We are thrilled to open new doors for Angelenos and our visitors from around the world to experience natural history, community science, and culture.”
The Natural History Museum is part of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC), which also includes the La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park.
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