SC Connecticut News

President Peter Salovey, during the dedication ceremony for the newly renovated Yale Peabody Museum, pondered on the museum's significance as Yale's 'front door' to the world, specifically highlighting the Burke Dinosaur Hall as a beloved spot by generations of Connecticut schoolchildren. Salovey emphasized the museum's role in fostering education, research, preservation, and innovation, echoing the sentiments expressed during the museum's original opening in 1925.

The comprehensive renovation of the Peabody Museum, made possible by a substantial $160 million gift from philanthropist Edward P. Bass '67, has transformed the museum into a dynamic center of participatory learning and accessible exhibitions. The project, designed by Centerbrook Architects and Planners, expanded the museum's galleries, added classrooms, research labs, and an education center for K-12 students from the New Haven area. The museum now offers free public admission, aiming to make it more accessible than ever before.

Yale Peabody Museum Director David Skelly expressed gratitude towards the donors and university administration for their support in revitalizing the museum. Skelly highlighted the museum staff's dedication in preparing for the renovation and creating the enhanced exhibits that have contributed to the project's success.

The Peabody Museum reopened to the public on March 26, welcoming students from New Haven public schools as its first guests. With new galleries showcasing biodiversity, live plants and animals in "The Living Lab," and upcoming additions like David Friend Hall and the Hall of the Pacific, the museum is poised to continue its legacy as a center of learning and discovery for visitors from near and far.