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Virginia Living Museum Receives Virginia Tourism Corporation Grant for Tourism Marketing of Destination: Dinosaurs!

By thevlm In dinosaurs, Press Releases

On May 8, 2023, the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) awarded the Virginia Living Museum a $20,000 grant through its Marketing Leverage Program to support the Museum’s summer exhibition, Destination: Dinosaurs!

From May 27 through September 4, Destination: Dinosaurs immerses guests in the prehistoric world where they discover life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs and interactive displays, find relics of the past as they dig for fossils, and journey through time to experience the thrill of encountering these incredible creatures.  

Dinosaurs inside the Museum, in the Conservation Gardens, and on the Dinosaur Discovery Trail in the woods create an expansive destination for guests of all ages. From the towering Tyrannosaurus rex to the tank-like Stegosaurus, families encounter creatures that take their breath away! Daily public programs— Dino-mite Animals and Super Science LIVE! – engage audiences in exploring dinosaur artifacts, adaptations, and more hands-on science activities.

“VTC’s tourism marketing and sponsorship programs are designed to increase visitor spending by leveraging limited marketing dollars, to stimulate new tourism marketing through partnerships, and to extend the Virginia is for Lovers brand to drive visitation,” said Rita McClenny, VTC President and CEO. In total, VTC awarded more than $3.2 million for 236 local and regional tourism marketing programs across the state to help increase visitation and revenue for Virginia’s localities through tourism.

In addition to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Destination: Dinosaurs is generously sponsored by PRA Group, Inc., Kinder Morgan Bulk Pier IX/X, Waterway Surveys & Engineering, Ltd., the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, Inc. and W. M. Jordan Company, Inc.

For more information, visit thevlm.org and thevlm.org/explore/exhibits/temporary-exhibits/.

About Virginia Tourism Corporation
Virginia is for Lovers is one of the most iconic and recognizable travel brands in the world. Using that powerful brand equity, VTC is charged with promoting the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination by showcasing all there is to love in a Virginia vacation. The dollars spent by travelers fuel the economy, provide jobs for Virginians, and improve communities across the state. Simply put, tourism helps make Virginia a great place to live, work, and vacation. More information on VTC’s Marketing Leverage and Regional Marketing Programs can be found at vatc.org/grants. Learn more at virginia.org.

About The Virginia Living Museum
The Virginia Living Museum is a leader in natural living exhibits! Native Virginia mammals, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, birds, plants, and planets are presented in natural ecosystems that connect people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation.

Accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (living exhibits) and the American Alliance of Museums (non-live collections), the Museum’s high standards are its hallmark, as only fourteen institutions share this designation in the country.

Created by the Warwick Rotary Club and Junior League of Hampton Roads in 1966, the Museum is an independent 501c3 organization, a successful public/private partnership with the City of Newport News and Museum guests. The Museum is built by the community, beloved by the community, and sustained by the community.

Located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News (I-64, exit 258-A), hours are 9 to 5 daily. Learn more at thevlm.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or call 757-595-1900.