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The Taubman Museum of Art opened to the public Saturday with a day of music, ballet, inspiring words by Gov. Tim Kaine and other dignitaries and at least 10,000 visitors.

The nine galleries in the new Taubman museum of Art contain some fine things. But the first thing you'll notice are the stairs.

At the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new art museum three years ago, there was no mistaking the scale of Roanoke's dreams.

Planning to head to downtown Roanoke for the opening of the Taubman Museum of Art on Nov. 8?

"It's going to be gorgeous."

ArtVenture, the museum's 2,200-square-foot interactive gallery, is still a work in progress and is not expected to be ready until the end of November 2008.

The Taubman Museum of Art will feature an exhibit on baroque Italian painting when it opens in November, confirmed David Brown, the deputy director of art.