Much More than Dinosaur Skeletons
CMNH Looks To Bright Future According to Outgoing Director Latimer

No disrespect to the dinosaurs, but there is a lot more going on at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History nowadays than just the exhibits of full-sized replica skeletons from 65 million years ago. For the past eight years, Bruce Latimer, Ph.D., has served as the executive director successfully leading the organization into the 21st century by re-examining its mission and creating an exciting new strategic plan. He first came to the museum 32 years ago as a graduate student in physical anthropology studying the evolution of human locomotion.

With board members and staff committed to the new direction and future design of the museum, Dr. Latimer, 54 years old, recently said it was a good time to announce his retirement so he can devote his energy to research, writing, and teaching. "We have selected the Denver, Colorado, architecture firm, Fentress Architects, that will design plans for a major museum expansion and renovation project," he explained. An exhibit design firm has already been chosen to create new, interactive educational displays. After museum board approval of the plans in October, a major capital campaign will begin...

The total museum campus including the 265,000 square foot building, the outdoor animal exhibits, and the grounds, covers 11 ½ acres in the heart of University Circle. The museum's strength lies in the 5 - 6 million pieces of artifacts, and human and animal remains including the well-known Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection with 3000 skeletons and records of over 3600 cadavers. Yet the visiting public only sees about 40 percent of its remarkable assortment of artifacts and specimens. The expansion plan includes construction of a new front lobby and the addition of a greatly needed parking garage.

Adding to its permanent collection, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History announced two mergers in 2007: one with HealthSpace Cleveland and the other with EcoCity Cleveland. Previously working in forensic facial reconstruction and scientific illustrations, Linda Spurlock, Ph.D., was named to the new position of director of human health. She plans to weave human health, evolution, and facts about our shared DNA throughout the exhibits and offer expanded health education programs for students. David Beach, director of the former EcoCity Cleveland, will now lead a center for regional sustainability called the GreenCityBlueLake Institute and focus on measuring the carbon footprint of Cleveland residents.

"No other natural history museum has taken on human health and sustainability to this extent," Latimer said with pride. "We want visitors to leave saying 'Wow, I had no idea!'"

"The new exhibits will start with the 'Big Bang,'" Latimer explained, "including the origins of the solar system and earth, move on to the creation of water, life, and the explanation of Darwinian evolution including mammal, primate, and human evolution. We will have road signs and pods off the main pathway through the museum showing how these developments are all connected."

"This is a new approach to natural history and we are very excited by it," said Latimer. "We want this institution to become a resource for the community and catapult its assets in front of the world at large for education and research purposes." In 2007, with 285,000 visitors, 8,900 members, 100,000 students served, and more than 140 public education programs, the museum is well on its way! A search for Latimer's replacement has begun, according to Nathanial T. Smith, president of the board of trustees for the Museum. Bonnie Cummings, the Museum’s chief operating officer, will act as interim executive director while a new director is sought.

Visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History at http://www.cmnh.org.

Interview and Photos by Cool Cleveland contributor Susan Schaul susn1ATatt.net
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