Save RPM's Vandalized Dinosaur
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VANDALISM INCIDENT AT THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM
Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, the Reading Public Museum experienced vandalism to its traveling exhibition, Dinosaurs Around the World: Passport to Pangea. The animatronic Spinosaurus, located outside of The Museum, was discovered with missing fingers, teeth, partial tail and damage to the dinosaur’s sail.
The Museum’s security camera footage captured the vandals, three young males, climbing onto the Spinosaurus causing the damages. Due to the damages, the dinosaur’s animatronic feature will be disabled until further repaired. Other than the Spinosaurus, the rest of the exhibit will remain open with all animatronic features fully functional and operating.
“This isn’t only hurting the Reading Public Museum but all of the children and families that planned a visit to the exhibition. It also reflects poorly on our community,” shared John Graydon Smith, Director and CEO.
There has been an outreach of community support and interest in contributing to help defer the repair costs. The Museum is asking for the missing pieces to be returned to repair the Spinosaurus and any contributions made to this GoFundMe account, or checks made payable to the Foundation for the Reading Public Museum, include Damaged Dinosaur in the memo, and mailed to 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA 19611-1425.
If you have any information on this crime, please contact the Director of Building & Grounds Pete Poncheri at [phone redacted] x225.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, the Reading Public Museum experienced vandalism to its traveling exhibition, Dinosaurs Around the World: Passport to Pangea. The animatronic Spinosaurus, located outside of The Museum, was discovered with missing fingers, teeth, partial tail and damage to the dinosaur’s sail.
The Museum’s security camera footage captured the vandals, three young males, climbing onto the Spinosaurus causing the damages. Due to the damages, the dinosaur’s animatronic feature will be disabled until further repaired. Other than the Spinosaurus, the rest of the exhibit will remain open with all animatronic features fully functional and operating.
“This isn’t only hurting the Reading Public Museum but all of the children and families that planned a visit to the exhibition. It also reflects poorly on our community,” shared John Graydon Smith, Director and CEO.
There has been an outreach of community support and interest in contributing to help defer the repair costs. The Museum is asking for the missing pieces to be returned to repair the Spinosaurus and any contributions made to this GoFundMe account, or checks made payable to the Foundation for the Reading Public Museum, include Damaged Dinosaur in the memo, and mailed to 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA 19611-1425.
If you have any information on this crime, please contact the Director of Building & Grounds Pete Poncheri at [phone redacted] x225.
Organizer
Melissa Varone
Organizer
Reading, PA
FOUNDATION FOR THE READING PUBLIC MUSEUM
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
