Houston Museum of Natural Science Revenue and Competitors

1909: The Houston Museum and Scientific Society, Inc. was organized "to establish and maintain a free institution for the people, for education and science."1914-1930: The core of the permanent collection was established; Museum holdings included minerals, shells, insects, butterflies, birds, and other animals in addition to important ethnographic and archaeological materials. 1929: Initially displayed in the City Auditorium and the Public Library, the collection came to rest in the Houston Zoo. Valentine Gesner was hired as the collection's first curator and worked under Clarence L. Brock, Director of the Museum and Head of the Parks Department. 1930 - 1934: Major John E. T. Milsaps presented his collection of minerals, shells, curios and other objects to the City of Houston. Other citizens began donating their curios, relics and souvenirs and by 1934 the collections were too crowded in their temporary quarters. 1943: At this time, the Museum housed more than 17,000 items and the decision was made to start phasing out the history, numismatics, philately, and textiles departments and rearrange the collection, thus establishing a stronger bias toward the natural sciences. Mr. Gesner resigned his position as museum curator and the Museum Council transferred sole "possession, control, maintenance and operation" of the collection to the Board of Managers of a new corporation, "The Museum of Natural History of Houston. Robert A. Vines was named the new curator and director of the museum. 1947: With funds donated by the River Oaks Garden Club, the Museum hired a teacher, initiating its first education program. 1948: By its second year, this program was providing natural science education for 12,000 children. 1956 - 1957: Dr. Thomas E. Pulley becomes the director of the Museum. He would guide the Museum's growth for the next 25 years. 1959: Under the leadership of Dr. Pulley, land was acquired at the North end of Hermann Park for a permanent facility that would accommodate collection expansion and a growing audience. Shortly thereafter, the Museum's name was changed to "Houston Museum of Natural Science."1964: With a generous contribution from Burke Baker, the Museum was able to open the first phase of its present building, the Burke Baker Planetarium and a small portion of exhibit space. 1967: Due to growing Museum collections and the need for additional exhibition and classroom space, a capital campaign was initiated to fund an adjoining structure. It was completed in 1969. 1979: The Museum sponsored its first international traveling show, "Peru's Golden Treasures. The success of this exhibit indicated the need for a larger gallery area for traveling exhibits. 1980s: Another capital campaign provided funds for a new, 40,000 square foot exhibit wing and an endowment for maintenance. In the meantime, the influx of gifts to the collections continued. New Museum exhibits and programs were developed to make use of the vastly improved facilities and growing collection. 1982: With the help of a fundraising campaign initiated by Mr. Herbert Frensley, the president of the Board of Trustees, the Museum was able to raise funds for a new wing. During the subsequent years, numerous shows of national and international importance have been held in the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Gallery. 1983: Dr. Pulley retired after nearly twenty-five years of service; Assistant director Carl Aiken was appointed as the new director of the Museum. 1985: Laura Higley, a Museum Trustee, took over as acting director while the Museum conducted a formal search for a new director. 1985: The Museum acquired the Ann and Perkins Sams Collection of Gems and Minerals, which was considered one of the top three such collections in the world, with over 1,400 world-class specimens. 1986: The Museum's next president, Truett Latimer, was hired to improve and expand the Museum's collections, exhibits, facilities and education programs. 1986: The Sams Collection goes on public display in the newly completed Cullen Gallery of Earth Science. 1987: Three additional Halls were added. The Strake Hall of Malacology was opened, showcasing 2,500 seashells. In June, "Blueprints for the Future," an innovative look at space architecture, opened in the Arnold Hall of Space and Science. Discovery Place, an interactive exhibit of hands-on science experiments, opened in the Fondren Hall. 1988: As a result of tremendous public and private response to the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, the Museum designed and opened the first Challenger Learning Center. This sophisticated simulator, designed to educate students about space and space flight, has been replicated throughout the United States and Canada. 1989: An extensive capital campaign provided funds to build the Wortham IMAXr Theatre, the Cullen Grand Entry Hall and the George Observatory, in addition to renovations to the Burke Baker Planetarium. 1991: The McDannald Hall of the American Indian and the Isaac Arnold Hall of Space Science were renovated to better display their collections. 1991: The Houston Museum of Natural Science began the "Face of the Future" campaign for the construction of a 90,000 square foot Exhibit Wing. 1993 - 1994: With the help of funds raised from the campaign, the Houston Museum of Natural Science completely renovated the Welch Chemistry Hall in November of 1993, the Paleontology Hall in May of 1994, and opened the Cockrell Butterfly Center and the Brown Hall of Entomology in July of 1994. The Museum was also able to expand and renovate the Sterling Hall of Research and open new temporary exhibit halls on the second and third floors. Lastly, the Museum reopened the Wiess Energy Hall in October of 1994. 1995: The Museum continued to expand its gem and mineral collection with two extraordinary acquisitions: the Ed and Ann David Collection from New Jersey and the Bernus-Mane' Collection from Spain. 1996: These acquisitions led to a total renovation of the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, now recognized as one of the best mineral collections in the world. 1998: The Museum's original venue, the Burke Baker Planetarium, was completely renovated to include new and improved technology: a seamless dome, tilted seats and a modified sound system. 1999: The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Hall of Special Exhibitions opened in February, to feature temporary and traveling exhibits on loan from premier collections throughout the world. 2001: After a 15-year term, Museum President Truett Latimer retired. In October of 2001, Rebecca A. McDonald was named President. 2004: Mrs. McDonald returned to the commercial energy sector and Joel A. Bartsch was selected to become the seventh leader of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.