September 26, 1971 



125th anniversary of Smithsonian Institution. 



November 16, 1971 



Baird Auditorium dedicated. 



laiuiary 15, 1973 



Porter M. Kier appointed Director, National Museum of 





Natural History. 



1973 



"Rearticulation" returns building management, exhibits. 





and educational activities to chrectorship of Museum. 



September 16, 1973 



Former Secretary Carmichael dies. 



December 17, 1973 



Former Secretary Abbot dies. 



March 5, 1974 



Discovery Room opens. 



1975 



Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center becomes part 





of Museum. 



1975 



Office of Anthropology abolished; Department re- 





established. 



October 1975 



Escalator installed in foyer. 



August (?) 1975 



Osteo-Prejjaration Laboratory built in east courtyard. 



July 1976 



West Cx)ui t l)uilding completed. 



1976 



Greenhouse built in east courtyard. 



December 1976 



Naturalist C'.eiUer opens in West Court building. 



Fall 1978 



Inventory program begins in Museum. 



May 30, 1979 



Kier leaves directorship; James F. Mello appointed 





Acting Director. 



December 7, 1979 



Former Secretary Wetmore dies. 



January 1980 



Richard Fiske appointed Director, National Museum 





of Natin al History. 



August 1980 



Constitution Avenue entrance modified for physically 





handicapped.. 



February 9, 1981 



Work begins on Museum Support Center. 



March 1981 



Link Port facility, in Fort Pierce, Florida, becomes part 





of National Museum of Natural History. 



July 15, 1981 



Evans Gallery opens in foyer. 



May 16, 1983 



Museum Support Center dedicated. 



September 17, 1984 



Secretary Ripley retires; Robert McC^ormick Adams takes 





office as ninth Secretary. 



July 10, 1985 



Fiske leaves directorship; James C. 1 yler appointed 





Acting Director. 



