GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Following a large-scale construction project, the Florida Museum of Natural History is delighted to reopen the Ken and Linda McGurn Exhibition Hall to the public on Monday, Nov. 23.

“We are so excited to share this beloved museum with the public again,” said Florida Museum Interim Director David Reed. “Nearly every part of the museum has been upgraded in some way. Some changes you’ll notice immediately, while others are more subtle. But don’t worry, all your favorite features are still here.”

Guests will be greeted by a new façade inspired by the state’s natural textures, from reptile scales to limestone, before stepping into a completely redesigned lobby and an expanded gift shop with more space and new selections of merchandise. The classrooms, information desk, outdoor picnic area and restrooms have also been renovated and modernized.

The new, free “Jack and Tifi Bierley Inspire Gallery” highlights the value of science and the importance of life on Earth through hands-on discovery. Visitors can explore at their own pace with activity kits featuring interactive games and natural history specimens or engage with the planet in real-time through the NASA-designed Eyes on the Earth interactive and NOAA’s Science On a Sphere® Explorer®.

The dedicated Daniel R. and Kathleen Hayman “Science Up-Close” section will feature opportunities for visitors to interact with scientists and educators, building on the success and unique nature of “Fantastic Fossils” and “Incredible Insects,” which introduced the concept. This presentation space will support live demonstrations, informal conversations and up-close encounters with real museum specimens, giving visitors unique opportunities to explore research, engage with UF experts and gain a deeper understanding of science in action.

“Part of our mission at the Florida Museum is to make University of Florida research relatable to everyday life. In our new space, visitors will see scientists up close explaining the importance of their research to the people of Florida,” Reed said. “By bridging the gap between scientists and the public, we can create meaningful engagement, helping children to see themselves as scientists and expanding their career opportunities.”

While the front of the building was being overhauled, the Florida Museum also refreshed its permanent exhibits with updated infrastructure, revised graphics, enhanced lighting and fresh paint. The temporary exhibit gallery was renovated shortly before the closure, and plans are underway for the first traveling exhibit to open in spring 2027. In addition, new flooring has been installed throughout the museum.

This expansion also included construction of a new, two-story building on the west side of Powell Hall. While this structure will not be open to the public, the roughly 6,000-square-foot addition houses offices, educational spaces and the UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute, founded in 2018 with a leadership gift from Jon and Beverly Thompson. Construction was completed earlier this year in May, and the building has been staffed and operational since the summer.

Membership renewals will be available at current rates through the end of 2026. In addition, members will have an exclusive opportunity to explore the refreshed museum during a special member sneak peek on Sunday, Nov. 22. For more details about renewing, visit the museum’s membership page.

Newly, the Florida Museum will now be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

As was the case before the closure, the last entry to the “Butterfly Rainforest” and “Discovery Zone” exhibits will remain at 4:30 p.m. The museum will close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in observance of the holidays.

The Florida Museum will continue to host off-site events leading up to its reopening and looks forward to seeing the community at Plant for Pollinators: Bees and Trees on Saturday, Oct. 3 and resuming the Tot Trots program on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The expansion was designed by Ennead Architects of New York, New York, and Scorpio Construction of Gainesville, Florida, served as the general contractor.

For more information about the project, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/visit/expansion.

This rendering shows the planned addition to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s façade. Plans are subject to change.

The roughly 6,000 square-foot addition to the west side of Powell Hall will host offices, educational spaces and the University of Florida’s Thompson Earth Systems Institute. Plans are subject to change.

This architectural rendering shows the new façade that will greet visitors to the the Florida Museum of Natural History. Plans are subject to change.

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Writer: Nikhil Srinivasan, nsrinivasan@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Source: David Reed, dlreed@ufl.edu
Media contact: Kaitlin Gardiner, kgardiner@floridamuseum.ufl.edu