[meteorite-list] Announcing the opening of a Natural History Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2027

[robert woolard]

All, 
 
I recently received some exciting news that I wanted to share with you. The local university here in Little Rock, AR will be celebrating their centennial anniversary in 2027, with a major part of this milestone being the opening of the UA Little Rock Museum of Natural History. The display will naturally consist of fossils, biological specimens, mineral and rocks, but most importantly to many of us, ….METEORITES!  Below is a brief summary of how this came about.
 
More than 30 years ago, my meteorite hunting partner Jerry Hinkle and I made a donation of more than 100 kg of meteorites that we had found at various sites around the world to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), a medium to large sized institution, here in Little Rock. We made the donation with the agreed on plan being to establish a permanent meteorite display there on campus that would be open to everyone. After the donation, I worked with the university by reaching out to some very well-known collectors and dealers, asking if they would be interested in making trades for some of our duplicate specimens in order to increase the diversification of the university’s collection. I was thrilled by the response, and quite humbled by the generosity of one gentleman in particular. The collection now has a number of whole and sliced specimens from 20 different locations all around the world, representing all three of the major classifications, as well as a number of tektites. Some of the highlights of the collection include a superb, beautifully regmaglypted 50-pound Sikhote-Alin, several other nice-sized irons, a number of whole Allendes, and the current main mass of the Delaware, AR meteorite that I also helped the university obtain. 
 
The meteorite collection was put on display on campus for a while, but unfortunately, monetary constraints precluded the establishment of a permanent museum. At one point, the meteorite display was moved to the Aerospace Education Center here in LR. Sadly, that center would eventually lose a major contributor’s support and ended up being closed, so the meteorites were transferred back to UALR. From that point on, most were put into storage; except for a small number of specimens used continuously for the astronomy class students to work with, or for occasional field trip presentations at local schools. Although I am pleased to know the meteorites were at least being used in those two ways, that obviously fell short of what I or the university had originally envisioned for the meteorite collection. Fortunately, the situation has now greatly improved! 
 
I was recently contacted by UALR’s Director of Development and External Affairs, Lloyd Webre, and various members of his team, who shared the exciting plans for the upcoming opening of the natural history museum, a fruition of my decades-long dream. Although the university is providing most of the funding for the project, some additional contributions are still needed. Mr. Webre, asked me if I would make my fellow meteorite enthusiasts aware of the museum’s need of more funding (and/or meteorite specimens) in case any of you would feel this is a worthy project that you might wish to help with.
 
If any of you, or anyone else you might know, are needing a last minute tax-deductible-donation to UALR, a registered 501©(3) nonprofit organization, for this year or in the near future for 2026, etc., or if you simply feel that the museum is something you would like to support as an educational resource for future students and the general public at large thru donating either monetary funds to finish construction of the project, or meteorite specimens to expand the collection, the university would be most appreciative, as Lloyd states in his words below:
 
We are excited to announce the upcoming UA Little Rock Museum of Natural History, scheduled to open in 2027 as part of the university's centennial celebration. This museum will serve as a vital educational resource for our students, the campus community, and the broader Little Rock region, providing hands-on learning opportunities and fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world. 
 
We are currently seeking support from donors who share our vision for this transformative project. Both monetary contributions and specimen donations are welcomed and will play a crucial role in building our collections and ensuring the museum's success. Your support will help us create a lasting legacy that inspires curiosity and scientific discovery for generations to come. If you would like to learn more about how you can contribute to this exciting initiative, please call Lloyd Webre, director of development at 501.951.1794 or email lgwebre at ualr.edu <mailto:lgwebre at ualr.edu>. 
 
Thanks to all for your time in reading this, and for any possible donation(s) that any of you might consider making. 

In closing, if some of you find yourselves near Little Rock at some point in 2027 or later, the university and I extend an early invitation to visit the campus and see the museum! 
 
Sincerely, 
Robert Woolard
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