Daryl Black, Ph.D., executive director at the Chattanooga History Center, walks through the space that is under construction while speaking about unique ways the museum will offer visitors information when it opens in next year.

Chattanooga History Center officials said today they're restarting construction at its planned new facility on the city's waterfront with plans to open in about a year.

The center has received $300,000 in new donations including pledges from Unum Group and First Tennessee Bank, said Cannon and Rick Montague, board members and co-chairs of its capital fundraising campaign.

That puts donations for the renewed center at about $8 million, officials said.

They also unveiled a new effort to garner the remaining $2.5 million needed to reach its $10.5 million goal.

The center, slated to open in the former Chattanooga Visitors Center space near the Tennessee Aquarium, had stopped construction about 11 months ago after fundraising slowed and as they worked to program the exhibits.

See Thursday's Times Free Press for full story.