$7.9 Million Expansion Approved for ASU Mayer Museum

In May, the Board of Regents approved a $4.5 million, single-story expansion to the southwest corner of the museum. Construction has begun on the approximately 4,500-square-foot addition that will house a large general use/events space, a café, restrooms, support spaces and in-wall display cases for exhibits.

The second $3.4 million expansion project was approved by the Board of Regents last week and features a nearly 2,400-square-foot, single-story addition to the west side of the museum that will house a new open gallery space for traveling and permanent exhibits.

The two expansion projects are being primarily funded by additional gifts from long-time ASU supporters Richard and B.J. Mayer, who previously funded construction of the original $17 million, 32,000-square-foot Mayer Museum.

Ronnie Hawkins Jr."We continue to be amazed by the generosity of Richard and B.J. Mayer and their commitment to supporting Angelo State," said ASU President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. "The new additions will make the museum an attractive site for campus and public events, as well as greatly enhance our ability to both entertain and educate the Ram Family and the community. The museum and these new additions are awesome examples of what we can accomplish with the support of outstanding friends like the Mayers, and we couldn't be more grateful."

Originally opened in May 2021, the Mayer Museum already houses a main exhibit floor, a large exhibit gallery, smaller exhibit rooms and a Kid's Cave children's area. It is also home to the ASU West Texas Collection and supports ASU student art programs with classrooms, specialized labs for graphic design, sculpture and ceramics, and student gallery space, along with faculty and staff offices and support spaces in the east section of the facility.

The centerpiece of the museum is the Dinosaur Collection that features a full-size replica skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex that is surrounded by 16 smaller dinosaur skeletons, as well as casts of dinosaur tracks and fossilized dinosaur eggs. Also on permanent display are an extensive Geology Collection and the K. Michael Conaway Archive and Exhibit that features a dynamic, educational and interactive record of Conaway's career, primarily as U.S. Representative for the 11^th District of Texas from 2005 through 2021.

Additionally, the museum has hosted more than 15 collaborative and traveling exhibits ranging from paintings, sculptures and ceramics to a variety of West Texas historical displays and different classes of specimens from the Angelo State Natural History Collections. Collaborative partners have included Historic Fort Concho, the San Angelo Railway Museum, San Angelo Cultural Affairs Council, San Angelo Amateur Radio Club and various artists, sculptors and ceramicists.

Located at 2501 W. Ave. N, the Mayer Museum is open free to the public, and tens of thousands of people of all ages have visited the museum since it opened to browse the exhibits and take part in educational programs and lectures, scheduled children's camps and activities, and school field trips. The museum is open weekly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and will remain open during the construction of the new additions.