A new expansion to the National Music Museum is now open to the public.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of the expansion after years of work.
The National Music Museum in Vermillion closed its doors in the spring of 2019 to begin construction on the new expansion. The Lillibridge Wing, named for the gifts of Tom and Cindy Lillibridge, is a roughly 16,000 square foot addition to the existing building.
The Lillibridge Wing includes a new museum store, performance hall, a gallery for special exhibitions, and an administrative suite.
Nate Welch is the president and CEO of the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company. He says having the new expansion and the museum in general is a boon to the community.
“The premier music museum and the best institution of its kind in the world. It is a true gem for our community and our state.” He says, “The National Music Museum puts Vermillion on the map, and we're proud to be the arts and culture capital of South Dakota.”
While the Lillibridge Wing is open to the public, the original museum is still undergoing some renovations to the permanent exhibits housed there.
Scott Lawrence is the chair of the museum board of trustees. He says the collection of instruments in the National Music Museum and the Lillibridge Wing is unrivaled.
“At one time I had a person say to me ‘Well, it's not like you've got the Magna Carta.’ And I said, ‘Oh, but we do.’ Lawrence says, “The King Cello is the rarest and most priceless instrument on the planet that exists today. And we have it, but that's only one of over 15,000.”
The first exhibit in the Groves Gallery of the Lillibridge Wing is called NMM Goes Electric! The exhibition runs from October 1st until December 13th.