History museum celebrates 25th ann.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Museum of Natural History is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The Martinsville museum says it is holding a Founder's Day Open House on Aug. 29 as part of the celebration. It will include free admission and supervised behind-the-scenes access to selected labs and collections storage areas.

Officials say the museum has experienced steady growth since its founding and has earned recognition as one of the nation's leading museums in its field. It is accredited by the American Association of Museums, a distinction earned by fewer than 10 percent of museums in the United States.

The museum also became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in 2004.