The New Southern View's Mississippi News

Jackson, Miss. –On October 28, 2006, the staff of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science welcomed the Pirruccio family as the one-millionth visitor to the Museum’s new location (which opened in the spring of 2000). The Pirruccios relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana from Italy this summer and have visited museums world-wide. But, son Riccardo exclaims that, “Now the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is our museum!”

The family was visiting the capital city for a soccer tournament and stopped into the Museum between games. In addition to the festive welcome and prize package, the Pirruccios were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour by Museum Director Libby Hartfield.

“We will always remember this day. We are blown away! Thank you for all that you did to make this day special — we never expected this,” says father, Salvatore. Traveling with Mr. Pirruccio were his wife, Deborah, sons Riccardo, Christian, and Alessio and friend Tiger Bech.

“We had so much fun welcoming the Pirruccio family! Thank you to the Pirruccios and all of our visitors for making the Museum so successful. All of our visitors are one-in-a-million!” says Hartfield.

The Pirruccios were showered with a family Museum membership and other gifts, and a Mississippi Gulf Coast travel package (including accommodations and dining at the Beau Rivage) to visit the Horn Island; World of Space and Form exhibit at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. “We just opened our Jewels of the Sea: Walter Anderson’s Aquatica exhibit and thought this would be a great way to promote travel to the Coast and cross-promote both Walter Anderson exhibits,” explains Hartfield.

The Pirruccio family plans to return to the Museum this December with family members who will be visiting from Italy for the holiday season.

For more information about the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, visit their website at www.msnaturalscience.org.

Mississippi has long been one of America's havens for wildlife and natural habitat, and for more than 50 years, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science has stood in the forefront of efforts to raise awareness of the value of these living natural resources. Visitors from all 82 Mississippi counties, all 50 states and many foreign countries tour the Museum annually to see how it showcases the state’s living heritage and learn its ecological story of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes and the Mississippi Sound.



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	Mississippi News
	Photo courtesy of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science ONE-MILLIONTH VISITOR WELCOMED TO MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE Italian family from Louisiana receives prize package worth over $500.00 dollars Jackson, Miss. –On October 28, 2006, the staff of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science welcomed the Pirruccio family as the one-millionth visitor to the Museum’s new location (which opened in the spring of 2000). The Pirruccios relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana from Italy this summer and have visited museums world-wide. But, son Riccardo exclaims that, “Now the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is our museum!” The family was visiting the capital city for a soccer tournament and stopped into the Museum between games. In addition to the festive welcome and prize package, the Pirruccios were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour by Museum Director Libby Hartfield. “We will always remember this day. We are blown away! Thank you for all that you did to make this day special — we never expected this,” says father, Salvatore. Traveling with Mr. Pirruccio were his wife, Deborah, sons Riccardo, Christian, and Alessio and friend Tiger Bech. “We had so much fun welcoming the Pirruccio family! Thank you to the Pirruccios and all of our visitors for making the Museum so successful. All of our visitors are one-in-a-million!” says Hartfield. The Pirruccios were showered with a family Museum membership and other gifts, and a Mississippi Gulf Coast travel package (including accommodations and dining at the Beau Rivage) to visit the Horn Island; World of Space and Form exhibit at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. “We just opened our Jewels of the Sea: Walter Anderson’s Aquatica exhibit and thought this would be a great way to promote travel to the Coast and cross-promote both Walter Anderson exhibits,” explains Hartfield. The Pirruccio family plans to return to the Museum this December with family members who will be visiting from Italy for the holiday season. For more information about the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, visit their website at www.msnaturalscience.org. Mississippi has long been one of America's havens for wildlife and natural habitat, and for more than 50 years, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science has stood in the forefront of efforts to raise awareness of the value of these living natural resources. Visitors from all 82 Mississippi counties, all 50 states and many foreign countries tour the Museum annually to see how it showcases the state’s living heritage and learn its ecological story of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes and the Mississippi Sound.