FULL SPEED AHEAD
THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA
RICHARD CONTI
Chief Wonder Officer
Science Museum of Virginia
DETAILS REGISTER
Both our meeting place and our speaker this month have fascinating stories to tell.
The Science Museum of Virginia is preparing to celebrate five decades of inspiring curiosity across the Commonwealth. At our meeting, we'll learn about the Museum's history, how it continues to evolve, change perspectives, and create new opportunities for learners of all ages, and how it is looking ahead to its next 50 years.
Our speaker is Richard Conti, Chief Wonder Officer and Director of the Science Museum of Virginia. Since assuming that role in 2008, Rich has led one of the Commonwealth's premier educational and cultural institutions, focusing on inspiring curiosity, expanding access to science education, and creating opportunities for lifelong learning.
Rich may have become an encorepreneur earlier than most of us. He began his career as a U.S. Naval Aviator, serving as a Radar Intercept Officer in the legendary F-14 Tomcat. He is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School—TOPGUN—and completed more than 250 carrier landings, one of naval aviation's most demanding accomplishments.
After his military service, Rich embarked on a very different mission, entering the museum world as Executive Director of Nauticus in Norfolk. This interactive maritime science center explores the history of the sea and is home to the historic battleship Wisconsin. That transition from naval aviator to museum leader set the stage for his remarkable tenure at the Science Museum of Virginia, where he has spent the past 18 years helping generations of Virginians discover the wonder of science.
OUR HOST
SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA
2500 West Broad Street
The Science Museum of Virginia occupies Richmond's historic Broad Street Station. We'll enjoy pastries and coffee beneath the breathtaking five-story domed Rotunda before moving next door to the RF&P Forum for our program. The Forum occupies what was originally the station's elegant dining room.
This iconic Richmond landmark served as the city's grand Neoclassical passenger depot from 1919 to 1975. It was designed by John Russell Pope, the architect of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. At its peak, Broad Street Station welcomed more than 33,000 visitors each day—more than twice the number of daily passengers currently served by Richmond International Airport.
Today, the Science Museum of Virginia blends this remarkable architectural heritage with hands-on science and technology exhibits. The Museum also preserves more than a century of transportation history, with artifacts that include trains, an aircraft, a submarine, and even a spacecraft.
