History of the Museum

​Broad Street Station (now home to the Science Museum of Virginia) was designed by John Russell Pope. Pope’s other notable designs include the Jefferson Memorial, the National Archives and part of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

​August 1913

The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (RF&P) select a design submitted by New York architect John Russell Pope for a new passenger station to be built in Richmond, VA.

April 1916

The RF&P and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad announce that a new station will be built on a 50-acre tract on Broad Street. Plans feature an innovative rail yard and track system.

January 1917

Ground is broken for Broad Street Station.

January 6, 1919

The first train pulls out from Broad Street Station at 1:07 pm.

April 22, 1943

A record 33,324 passengers arrive, depart or pass through Broad Street Station, the highest number in one day. 

June 1951

Lightning strikes and damages the station’s terra-cotta Rotunda dome, requiring it to be replaced with copper sheeting.

May 1971

The RF&P’s passenger rail service ends. Amtrak takes over passenger train service to Richmond and throughout much of the country. Broad Street Station is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

November 15, 1975

Amtrak moves all passenger train operations to a new station on Staples Mill Road. The last passenger train departs Broad Street Station at 4:58 am. 

March 1976

RF&P sells Broad Street Station to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

January 1977

Governor Mills E. Godwin unveils the Science Museum of Virginia’s first permanent exhibit gallery, the Discovery Room.

April 1983

The Museum completes the addition of the Ethyl IMAX®DOME & Planetarium (now known as the Dome theater). 

January 1995

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources erects a marker to commemorate the station’s place in the history of the Commonwealth.

October 2000

The Museum completes extensive exterior renovations, new interior spaces and a new exhibition.

January 2003

Mary Morton Parsons Earth-Moon Sculpture “the Kugels” is dedicated. At the time, the 29-ton solid granite globe of the Earth Kugel was the Guinness World Record-holder.

September 2005

The Museum opens 40 new interactive exhibits. Also unveiled were multipurpose galleries devoted to the history of Broad Street Station and Virginia’s prehistoric past.

June 2007

The Museum restores the Rotunda’s original terrazzo floor and Tennessee pink marble wainscoting.

July 2008

The Dome undergoes at $1.1 million renovation including new seats, carpeting and refurbishment of the screen.

December 2011

The Museum launches the Inspire the World capital campaign to transform the Science Museum of Virginia’s galleries and programs.

June 2013

The Museum opens its first new permanent gallery in over a decade, Boost!, a new approach to human physiology and the science of staying healthy.

March 2014

The Dome reopens with an upgraded state-of-the-art digital full dome projection system and a new NanoSeam™ screen. The $2.2 million renovation unveils the Digistar 5 system with 3D capability.

March 2015

Restoration to the Rotunda’s interior dome ceiling is completed. The newly resurfaced ceiling returns to its original grayish-blue hue.

April 2016

The Museum opens a multi-faceted exploratory learning place for children five and under, LightPlace.

May 2016

The Museum’s most ambitious gallery in its history, Speed, opens to the public. The Speed gallery features the SR-71 Blackbird, unveiling the intersection of motion and time across a world of science and technology.

April 2017

The Museum opens the Dewey Gottwald Center, a sleek new structure that serves as a flexible venue for community events and blockbuster traveling exhibitions.

September 2018

The Forge opens to the public as the Museum's new permanent makerspace. The Forge harnesses the power of the maker movement, celebrates innovation and encourages guests to roll up their sleeves to create. 

January 2019

The Museum celebrates the 100th anniversary of the day the first train left Broad Street Station.