Admission rates will be reduced during Fall ‘05 renovations

Toronto - Starting September 8, 2005, the main entrance of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on Queen’s Park, known as the Rotunda, will close temporarily to complete its restoration and transformation. On that date, the main entrance moves to the south end of the Museum (currently used as the school group entrance), where a bright red awning will welcome ROM visitors. The temporary south entrance, known as the Loblaws Entrance in recognition of a significant gift made last year, will be used until the opening of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal in the summer of 2006, at which time the Museum’s main entrance will move permanently to Bloor Street West.

The ROM welcomes visitors throughout the renovations this fall, but will reduce admission rates by almost fifty percent between the end of the special exhibition Feathered Dinosaurs and the Origin of Flight and the December opening of Phase One galleries in the Renaissance ROM project. From September 6 until mid-December 2005 (exact date to be confirmed), admission rates will be just $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; $5 for children. In this period, the natural history galleries on level 2 and the world cultures galleries on level 3 will remain open, although the Museum’s entire main floor will be closed for renovations, with the exception of the Education facilities.