San Fernando Valley : Museum to Close at Burbank Mall

The city of Burbank is about to lose its museum-in-a-mall.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has notified the city that it plans to vacate its $2-million mini-museum on the northern edge of the Media City Center.

Natural History’s decision to pull out comes less than three years after the two-story Burbank satellite opened with much fanfare and a show of giant moving insects, some the size of compact cars. As many as 70,000 people a year have visited the shopping-convenient facility to see exhibits on bats, whales, Ice Age mammals and Native American art.

In a July 21 letter, James L. Powell, director of the county museum, said the decision to leave the two-story space was necessary “due to the budget and staff constraints under which the foundation [the Natural History Museum’s nonprofit fund-raising and support body] must operate and the limited attendance at the Burbank branch museum.”

Headquartered in Exposition Park, the Natural History Museum has been battered in recent years by drastic cuts in county support and by internal turmoil. Last month, Deputy Director Marcus A. Rodriguez was charged with embezzling $2.1 million from the county museum.

In his letter, Powell said he would be happy to discuss alternatives with city officials and the Alexander Haagen Co., the Manhattan Beach developer of the Media City Center.

Powell was on vacation and could not be reached for comment. But Natural History spokesman Brett Henry said the decision was not final. “This is not a for-sure thing,” he said.

But Steve Helvey, Burbank’s assistant city manager, said no one from the museum had told him the decision was tentative. “I would be surprised if they had a change of heart at this point,” Helvey said.