Tellus: Northwest Georgia Science Museum is now a member of the Smithsonian Affiliations Program.
By joining the network, the science museum now has greater access to the collections and educational resources of the 47 museums, libraries and research centers in the Smithsonian network.
“We are proud to be a member of the program,” Jose Santamaria, executive director of Tellus, said in a news release. “We look forward to working with the Smithsonian to expand the museum-going experience for our visitors.”
Opened in January 2009, Tellus is home to one of only two digital planetariums in Georgia. The 120,000-square-foot museum also includes Science in Motion, a journey through the development of motorized transportation.
“Joining the Smithsonian Affiliations Program is validation that Tellus is a world-class museum,” Santamaria said. “Becoming an affiliate of the Smithsonian involves a rigorous process for qualification as they only accept museums who have the highest standards and who are capable of caring for projects as they would.”
Tellus was built on the site of the Weinman Mineral Museum, a 9,000-square-foot museum. By the end of 2009, Tellus officials expect that more than 150,000 people will visit the museum.
