Schiele Museum to celebrate its 60th anniversary July 24

Rudolph Melchoir "Bud" Schiele died in Gastonia in 1974, nearly half a century ago.

But Schiele's vision of a dynamic museum that would connect young people to nature, to science, and to the mysteries of the universe is still very much alive.

The Schiele Musuem of Natural History and Planetarium will be celebrating its 60th anniversary on Saturday, July 24.

Those six decades, Director Ann Tippitt said, have been marked by growth, expansion, and a commitment to not only uphold Schiele's legacy but also to meet the needs of a changing, diverse community.

"With COVID-19 hanging over our heads, we did not want to plan a big celebration that might never happen," Tippitt said of why no gala event will take place on that anniversary date.

Instead, she said, "We're looking at this as a year-long celebration that will build over the course of the next 12 months."

To learn the history of the museum, a visitor must walk down hill, literally. The museum's initial small building, occupying only 1,500 square feet, was located at the base of a slope that increased from west to east.

As expansions and additions have occurred over the past 60 years, Tippitt explained, they have literally been built working their way up the slope.

Bud Schiele's dream

But before getting into the particulars of the museum and its mission today, it's probably best to take a look at the life of Bud Schiele.

Born in Philadelphia on April 2, 1893, to working class parents, Schiele learned to love nature at an early age and as a teenager worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum.

Following service in the Army during World War I, Schiele was offered a job as the only wildlife official in what was then the territory of Alaska. Instead he became an  executive with the Boy Scouts of America.

At about the same time he married Lily Hobbs, a fellow naturalist and collector, who would be his lifelong companion.

Schiele led the Piedmont Boy Scout Council from 1924 until he had to retire in 1958 at age 65 due to Scouting's mandatory retirement age. During those years, he collected wildlife, rocks, and other minerals which he displayed in his Gastonia office and home.

After retirement from Scouting, Schiele made an offer to a group of community leaders:

"If you can persuade the county to build a place to house it, I will offer my entire collection of animals and minerals (to a museum) and give my services for free."

When the museum opened, Schiele became its first director, assisted by his wife Lily.

"They were always a team," said Tippitt of the Schieles. "Scouts from all over the region knew and respected both him and his wife. They were truly partners in every sense of the word."

In the early days of the museum, Tippitt said, "Lily would sit right inside the door and greet people. With the school children, she would make sure their hands were clean. They were committed to stewardship and to citizenship. They saw their role as one of service to the community."

Public-private partnership

Today, the museum occupies roughly 74,000 square feet of space.

Its state of the art planetarium has the second largest dome in the state, a little smaller than the historic Morehead Planetarium dome on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill.

The museum, which six decades ago was staffed only by Mr. and Mrs. Schiele, now has roughly 30 employees in addition to a host of seasonal workers and volunteers.

The city of Gastonia has owned the museum and its grounds since 1964, with the city providing roughly 60 percent of the facility's operating budget.

A board of directors works to meet the remainder of the museum's budget needs, especially providing funds for new projects and for temporary exhibits.

The museum is both accredited by and affiliated with the Smithsonian, meaning it can receive exhibits on loan from the national museum.

Larry Brannock, a member and former chair of the board of directors, said the museum has made "remarkable progress" over the past two decades.

"The programs and exhibits are constantly changing and always getting better," Brannock said. "A recent example is the makeover of the colonial village into a traditional farm setting with many live farm animals.

"The facility has expanded," he added. "The planetarium has been upgraded, and the exhibits inside and outside are constantly maintained and improved. The staff is the highest quality ever."

Both Steve Campbell, the board's current chair, and John Forgan, a past chair, echoed Brannock's remarks, noting that a connection to the business community helps the museum be more responsive to community needs.

"The museum is an embracing place," said Forgan. "The staff has the freedom to take things the community suggests and run with them. The hallmark of this staff is its tremendous creativity."

Sharing memories

As part of its commemoration of the 60th anniversary, the Schiele has added a special "Commemorating 60 Years" page to its website, found at schielemuseum.org.

A photographic timeline takes visitors through highlights of the museum's first six decades.

In addition, Schiele staff is hopeful that people will record and upload their own special memories of visits to the museum. so that others may view them.

Key Dates in Schiele History

• July 24, 1961 -- The Gaston County Museum of Natural History officially opens.
• 1964 -- Museum name is changed to Schiele Museum of Natural History.
• 1967 -- Original planetarium opens to the public.
• 1974 -- Alan Stout named director.
• 1976 -- Farm established.
• 1984 -- Catawba Indian Village opens.
• 1987 -- Elizabeth W. Robinson Exhibit Hall opens.
• 1990 -- Earth/Science Center is built.
• 1993 -- The Schiele Society is established.
• 1995 -- David Brose become director.
• 1999 - T. Rex is displayed.
• 2000 -- Planetarium named for James H. Lynn.
• 2001 -- Museum begins affiliation with Smithsonian.
• 2003 -- Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
• 2005 -- Ann Tippitt become director.
• 2013 -- Matthews Belk Cannon Environmental Studies Center opens.
• 2016 -- Full-dome digital upgrade to planetarium.
• 2019 -- The farm expanded.

Bill Poteat, who is looking forward to taking his two grandsons to the Schiele in the near future, may be reached at 704-869-1855 or bpoteat@gastongazette.com.