October 3, 2009

Sugar Land, Texas - After three years of planning, the impressive 43,000 sq. ft. Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land officially opened on October 3 at Telfair, a community developed by Newland.

Occupying a historic prison building, the new Museum opens with four permanent galleries and travelling exhibitions that reflect the most popular exhibit areas of the main Houston Museum of Natural Science.

"From the spectacular exhibits to a real Tyrannosaurus rex, the museum has something for everyone. It's high-tech and timeless, engaging and truly an incredible asset to Telfair, Sugar Land and Fort Bend County," says Travis Stone, Senior VP of Newland Communities.

Project History

The Central State Farm prison building opened in 1939 as a place to house Texas convicts who worked in the surrounding cotton fields. In 1968 the prison was closed.

Newland purchased the prison building and surrounding 2,018-acres in 2003 from the Texas General Land Office for the development of Telfair. The community opened with new homes for sale in 2006. Around this time, Newland completed over $1 million in renovations to the prison building.

"The building had so much character; we wanted it to be a focal point for Telfair. When the opportunity presented itself to turn it into a museum we didn't hesitate," says Travis Stone.

A private/public alliance was formed between Newland, the City of Sugar Land and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Together the group agreed to turn the building into the first satellite facility for the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

In January 2008, Newland donated the prison building and surrounding 5.5 acres of land to the City of Sugar Land. The City, through the Sugar Land 4B Corporation, then contributed $6 million toward additional renovations. Then after much work by the Houston Museum of Natural Science team, the museum opened on October 3.

A Look Inside

At the entrance, just past the Museum store, visitors are greeted by a giant animated globe, called Science on a Sphere. Under the sphere is the skeleton of a T. rex.

There are four galleries: the Hall of Life Science, the Hall of Earth Science, the Hall of Space Sciences and a special exhibit, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Expedition.

There are also three different movies, many interactive exhibits and travelling exhibits covering required science topics for Texas schools.

Read the story behind the Central State Prison Farm and find out more about the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land by visiting www.hmns.org

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