For Immediate Release: 12.14.2020
Shortly after the Museum’s grand opening in mid-December of 2019, COVID-19 hit, requiring the Museum – and many other businesses and organizations – to close its doors to the public. In early July, the museum reopened with stringent health and safety measures in place, only to then suffer a colossal internal flood in late October.
The MMGM was forced to rapidly shut down, but quickly cleaned up the damage and refocused on opening the two remaining unharmed galleries.
“We want to share what we’ve built here, and what we’re rebuilding,” says Barbra Barrett, the MMGM’s director. “Maine is a resilient state, the Museum is resilient, and if we can bring a glimmer of delight and joy with our remaining galleries, then that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Space Rocks Gallery, which houses the world’s foremost collection of meteorites and Moon rocks, displays its collections utilizing immersive, 360-degree audiovisual techniques, telling the story of the universe’s oldest matter with 21st century technology.
The Discovery Gallery takes an opposite, more analogue approach, but is just as enticing as it’s tech-savvy counterpart. This gallery takes after its namesake — inviting visitors to open drawers and physically discover and explore thousands of minerals, gems and rocks from Maine and beyond.
As Barrett aptly puts it, “We’re going to welcome in the public, welcome in the new year, and rebuild and rock on!”
