NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction for a new facility at Newport News' Virginia Living Museum.
The new facility will be the "Wild Care Center," which will be a building with veterinary offices inside. The offices will have large glass windows to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look into how the medical experts take care of the animals at the museum.
"You're going to see a glassed-in veterinarian office," said So, you're going to see our work with all of the animals for their annual check-up and if there was something wrong, they would get checked up for that."
It's soon-to-be an exploration behind the scenes at the Virginia Living Museum.
Leaders of the museum, along with Newport News Mayor Philip Jones, took their shovels to the ground along the boardwalk trail, right next to the coyote exhibit.
The museum's board Chair, Ashby Kilgore, called this an opportunity to keep the museum in the 21st century and allowing visitors, especially children, to explore beyond the classroom.
"Once a student or a family sees what happens behind the scenes, you can start picturing yourself doing that job," Kilgore said.
Mayor Jones commented on the fact that he used to come to the Virginia Living Museum as a child, calling the investment into the museum's efforts a great opportunity for students looking to see what type of career they would like to do when they grow up.
"I think when you look at the future of STEM, our kids could be doing so many things, but they can come here, they could get a great education," Mayor Jones said. "They could get really rooted in STEM and who knows what the future will hold for them."
Kilgore did not say how much the estimated amount the Wild Care Center would cost. She said the museum is looking to get involved in a capital funding project to help support the new facility.
Virginia Living Museum executives said they expect to have the center open by June 2024.
