WHAT'S "GOING DOWN" AT THE MET?

Passersby have likely wondered this week what exactly is going on with the large excavators and construction vehicles assembling on the Met's grounds. The answer? Our next big step in the renovation project - as the 1936 and 1951 additions to the historic 1922 Fresno Bee Building are being demolished in preparation for the installation of our new expanded courtyard grounds.

This portion of the project is one of the final major steps as we approach our reopening, and will return our historic building to its original 1922 footprint. If you haven't got the time to grab your lawn chair and ice chest and watch the fun unfold by sitting on Stanislaus Avenue near the Met all day, you can follow the progress at the Renovation Station.

A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER IS COMING

The wait is almost over! The Fresno Metropolitan Museum will open the doors of its brand new museum, as we host a grand reopening celebration on Thursday, November 13, 2008.

Exciting events scheduled for that day will include the ribbon cutting ceremony, the unveiling of the Helping Hands Wall and the debut of the Feathered Dinosaurs and the Origin of Flight exhibition.

A special members’ reception to preview the Feathered Dinosaurs exhibition will be held on Saturday, November 8th. Another sneak peek event on the following day, Sunday, November 9th, will be held for the donors who were instrumental in helping us reach our goal of a brand-new Met.

A historic weekend for the Met begins on Friday, November 14th when we open our doors at 11 a.m. and will not close until 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 16th. That’s 55 straight hours of special entertainment and activities for the whole family!

Please join us in celebration this November as we bring to the community a brand new museum that’s better than ever!

HELPING HANDS REMINDER

Remember to order your personalized brick by May 1st so that you can be a part of the Helping Hands Wall when it is unveiled at the grand reopening celebration on November 13th!

Customize your very own, tax-deductible brick that will be a placed on the Helping Hands Wall, which will be located on the south side of the museum, next to the new entrance.

The bricks are available in four styles, range from $100 to $500 and can be easily purchased online. Any brick order placed after May 1st will be added to the Helping Hands Wall at a later date.

Show your support for the Met and the community and order your brick today!