FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: TANEKA BENNETT, (336) 373-2971

GREENSBORO HISTORICAL MUSEUM RAISING $1.6 MILLION TO FUND A NEW EXHIBITION IN HONOR OF THE CITY OF GREENSBORO’S BICENTENNIAL

GREENSBORO, NC (APRIL 25, 2006) – On April 24, the Greensboro Historical Museum Inc. held a press conference to announce a capital campaign to raise 1.6 million to go towards redesigning and reconstructing 11,000 square feet of exhibition space to celebrate the City of Greensboro’s bicentennial. This undertaking is the largest renovation in the museum’s 82-year history.

With the support of a campaign committee, chaired by Jim and Anita Schenck, the museum has raised more than $1.1 million of its goal. The museum is also seeking public support, and therefore will look to partner with the City of Greensboro to be placed on the ballot for $3.5 million in 2006.

The funds raised go towards improving and enhancing the visitor experience by implementing modern-day exhibition technology. Visitors can touch and feel items at hands-on-learning stations, browse through the galleries and hear ambient sounds of Greensboro’s past, watch videos of historic events, and further discover fascinating facts about the city by using touch-screen computer kiosks. The museum is also using a portion of the money to enhance and improve family-centered public programs.

The first phase of exhibit renovations has already started with the museum’s $500,000 investment in the transformation of the 3,000-square-foot of the Gate City exhibition. The second phase starts in 2007 as 8,000-square-feet of gallery space is transformed into a chronological and thematic history of Greensboro from prehistory to the present.

To learn more about the Greensboro Historical Museum, call (336) 373-2043.