Perot Museum of Nature and Science – Dallas, Texas
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science (shortened to Perot Museum) is a natural history and science museum in Dallas, Texas in Victory Park. Everything from dinosaurs to DNA to diamonds is packed into five levels of hands-on discovery and adventure. Prepare to amaze your brain. The museum was named in honor of Margot and Ross Perot. The current chief executive officer of the museum is Dr. Linda Abraham-Silver.
The Perot Museum is a place where families can learn together and individuals can take a break from their daily routines to ponder the vast mysteries of science. Visitors can wander, either to get lost or to find their way, as they discover something new and fascinating.
Explore your world through 11 mind-blowing exhibit halls filled with magnificent prehistoric creatures, the wonders of space, and extraordinary experiences with glistening gems, wild weather, robots, sports, and more. Race a virtual T. rex, discover what it means to be human, experience the power of earthquakes, and construct model skyscrapers. Spark little imaginations in a mini version of downtown Dallas and take in a variety of traveling exhibitions. Exhilarating 3D films, a Wolfgang Puck Café, and an outdoor leapfrog forest complete the day of fun. A world of scientific wonders awaits.
The Museum will strive to achieve the highest standards of sustainability possible for a building of its type. High-performance design and incorporation of state-of-the-art technologies will yield a new building that will minimize its impact on the environment.
This world-class facility will inspire awareness of science through an immersive and interactive environment that actively engages visitors. Rejecting the notion of museum architecture as a neutral background for exhibits, the new building itself becomes an active tool for science education. By integrating architecture, nature, and technology, the building demonstrates scientific principles and stimulates curiosity in our natural surroundings.
The Museum reminds us that the universe is grander than ourselves, older than we can fathom, and that the world actually revolves around the sun, and not us. It inspires our community through exhibits, marvels, and presentations. It exhilarates and entertains visitors of all ages… because after all, it’s never too late to learn.
History
Though the Victory Park facility opened its doors in December 2012, the institution itself has roots dating back to 1936. The Museum of Nature & Science was the remarkable result of a 2006 merger between the Dallas Museum of Natural History (est. 1936), The Science Place (est. 1946), and the Dallas Children’s Museum (est. 1995). Combining collections-based natural history with man’s scientific and technological achievements, the Museum presented exciting exhibitions and educational programs for audiences, from early childhood to lifelong learners.
In May 2008, the five adult children of Margot and Ross Perot contributed a $50 million gift. Because of this generous gift, the fundraising efforts surpassed the $100 million mark allowing us to break ground at the Victory Park site in late 2009. The Museum was named the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in honor of the Perot family. The rest is history.