OU officials dedicate natural history museum

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A little rain wasn't enough to dampen the<br>enthusiasm surrounding the dedication of the $37.5 million Sam<br>Noble Museum of Natural History. <br><br>"This is a life-changing

Thursday, April 13th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A little rain wasn't enough to dampen the
enthusiasm surrounding the dedication of the $37.5 million Sam
Noble Museum of Natural History.

"This is a life-changing place, not only for children, but it
is a life-changing place for all of us because it puts our lives in
perspective," University of Oklahoma President David Boren told
the crowd that gathered Wednesday in the Great Hall near to
towering bronze statue of a giant mammoth.

The 195,000-square-foot museum will not open to the public until May 1, but the dedication marked the end of several years of work.

The museum project started in 1991 when the city of Norman approved a $5 million bond to help with the museum. Contributions and a $15 million state bond provided the rest.

The museum is the largest university-based museum in the country and the world, Boren said.

The Stovall Museum previously housed the history museum at OU, but it had only 8,000 square feet of space. The new museum has 50,000 square feet of exhibit space alone. The entire 6 million-piece collection is now under one roof, something that wasn't possible before, he said.

"The whole story of Oklahoma is preserved in your museum," said Michael Mares, museum director.

Mares recounted part of that story, the journey of the native people who lived in Oklahoma more than 12,000 years ago. The land was harsh and traveling was dren said the museum will be an awesome display of the collection, but will serve an educational purpose as well.

The university will use the facility for research, and other professional researchers will be able to study the museum's collections, he said. Oklahoma public schools will be able to use the classroom facilities in the museum.

"It will open their eyes," Boren said. "It will open their minds with amazement."

A few minor details remain before the museum opens to the public May 1. The university won't charge admission until July 1.