Orlando Science Center

Last updated
Orlando Science Center
Orlando Science Center.jpg
The Orlando Science Center as seen from Harry P. Leu Gardens
USA Florida location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Florida
Established1955 (1955)
Location Orlando, Florida
Coordinates 28°34′20″N81°22′06″W / 28.572321°N 81.368394°W / 28.572321; -81.368394
Type Science museum
Visitors+500,000 annually
DirectorJoAnn Newman
Public transit accessAiga bus trans.svg LYNX transportation logo.svg 125

The Orlando Science Center (OSC) is a private science museum located in Orlando, Florida. Its purposes are to provide experience-based opportunities for learning about science and technology and to promote public understanding of science.

Contents

The Orlando Science Center is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). The Orlando Science Center is member supported and sponsored in part by United Arts of Central Florida, Inc., the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Arts Council. [1]

History

Incorporated in 1955, the Central Florida Museum (CFM) opened in Orlando Loch Haven Park in 1960. For its first decade, it was an anthropology museum with collections of artifacts relating to Florida and the Caribbean Basin.

In the early 1970s, the CFM's board of directors voted to change directions and become a "hands-on" science and technology center. In 1973 the institution was renamed to honor a famous native son and astronaut, John Young.

In 1984, as part of an expansion and change of philosophy, the institution's name was changed to Orlando Science Center. In 1985 another major expansion created a permanent physical sciences hall, a traveling exhibit hall, and Curiosity Corner, a hands-on exhibit area dedicated to pre-school and early primary-age children. Its new facility was the setting for the Orlando Children's Museum scenes in Ernest Saves Christmas . [2] During the final expansion to the original facility in 1990, NatureWorks, a prototype for OSC's centerpiece natural science exhibit was created.

In May 1992, the Board and staff developed a comprehensive master plan for the Orlando Science Center, including a blueprint for construction of an entirely new science center. Construction of the new science center began in early 1995.

The new 207,000 sq ft (19,200 m2) Orlando Science Center celebrated its grand opening on February 1, 1997. It is six times larger than the original facility, which closed on December 31, 1996. The current president and CEO of the science center is JoAnn Newman.

Exhibits

These are the current exhibits within the Orlando Science Center

Traveling exhibits

The Science Center has a history of hosting traveling exhibits that are displayed for a few months at a time in different galleries.

Theaters

The Science Center has two movie theaters that show both educational and Hollywood films as well as laser light shows. Check the Orlando Science Center website for a current list of movie show times.

Annual events

Facility rentals

The Orlando Science Center offers its facility to host meetings, special engagements, and weddings. The venue offers 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of exhibits, a private theater, and IWerks movies.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum</span> Science museum in Bangalore, India

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of Science & Industry (Tampa)</span> Science museum in Tampa, Florida, U.S.

The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) is a non-profit science museum located in Tampa, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Science Museum of Minnesota</span> Science museum in Minnesota, United States

The Science Museum of Minnesota is an American museum focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science, and mathematics education. Founded in 1907 and located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution has 385 employees and is supported by volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnegie Science Center</span> Science museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Carnegie Science Center is one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Chateau neighborhood. It is located across the street from Acrisure Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Science Center</span> Science museum in California, U.S.

The California Science Center is a state agency and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, next to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California. Billed as the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, the California Science Center is a public-private partnership between the State of California and the California Science Center Foundation. The California Natural Resources Agency oversees the California Science Center and the California African American Museum. Founded in 1951 as the "California Museum of Science and Industry", the Museum was remodeled and renamed in 1998 as the "California Science Center". The California Science Center hosts the California State Science Fair annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COSI</span> Science museum in Columbus, Ohio

COSI, officially the Center of Science and Industry, is a science museum and research center in Columbus, Ohio. COSI was opened to the public on 29 March 1964 and remained there for 35 years. In 1999, COSI was moved to a 320,000-square-foot (30,000 m2) facility, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki along a bend in the Scioto River in the Franklinton neighborhood. COSI features more than 300 interactive exhibits throughout themed exhibition areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Science Center</span> Science museum and planetarium in San Diego, United States

The Fleet Science Center is a science museum and planetarium in Balboa Park, located in San Diego, California. It is at the east end of the El Prado Drive walkway, next to the Bea Evenson Fountain and plaza in central Balboa Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Lakes Science Center</span> Science museum in Cleveland, Ohio

The Great Lakes Science Center is a museum and educational facility in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Many of the exhibits document the features of the natural environment in the Great Lakes region of the United States. The facility includes signature (permanent) and traveling exhibits, meeting space, a cafe, and an IMAX Dome theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Children's Museum of Indianapolis</span> Childrens museum in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum. It is located at 3000 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana in the United Northwest Area neighborhood of the city. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is 472,900 square feet (43,933.85 m2) with five floors of exhibit halls and receives more than one million visitors annually. Its collection of over 130,000 artifacts and exhibit items is divided into two domains: Arts & Humanities and the Natural Sciences. Among the exhibits are simulated Cretaceous and Jurassic dinosaur habitats, a carousel, a steam locomotive, and the glass sculpture Fireworks of Glass Tower and Ceiling. The museum's focus is family learning; most exhibits are designed to be interactive, allowing children and families to actively participate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston Museum of Natural Science</span> Natural history museum in Houston, Texas

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a natural history museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, United States. The museum was established in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society, an organization whose goals were to provide a free institution for the people of Houston focusing on education and science. The museum complex consists of a central facility with four floors of natural science halls and exhibits, the Burke Baker Planetarium, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre. In 2022, the museum received 1,520,000 visitors, making it seventh on the List of most-visited museums in the United States, and was the third most-visited U.S. science museum. Much of the museum's popularity is attributed to its large number of special or guest exhibits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabot Space and Science Center</span> Science center in California

Chabot Space and Science Center, located in Oakland, California, is a center for learning in Earth and space science, which features interactive exhibits, planetariums, a large screen theater, hands-on activities, and three powerful telescopes.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS) is a museum in Raleigh, North Carolina. The museum is the oldest in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science</span> Science museum in New Mexico, U.S

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a natural history and science museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico near Old Town Albuquerque. The Museum was founded in 1986. It operates as a public revenue facility of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clay Center (Charleston, West Virginia)</span>

The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia in Charleston, West Virginia, US is a 240,000-square-foot (22,000 m2) facility dedicated to promoting performing arts, visual arts, and the sciences. All three being housed under one roof makes the Clay Center one of the few of its kind in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discovery Park of America</span> Heritage museum in Tennessee, U.S.

Discovery Park of America is a museum and heritage park located just outside the boundary of Union City, Tennessee. The park sits on 50 acres (20 ha) of land off of Everett Boulevard, near U.S. Route 51 and the proposed Interstate 69. It features exhibits and activities on local history, nature, military history, art and science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Worth Museum of Science and History</span> Museum in the United States

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is located on 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 in the city's Cultural District. It was opened in 1945 as the Fort Worth Children's Museum and moved to its current location in 1954. In 1968, the museum adopted its current name. Attractions at the museum include the Noble Planetarium, the Omni Theater, and the Star's Café, in addition to both traveling and permanent science and history exhibits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cox Science Center and Aquarium</span> Science museum in West Palm Beach, Florida, US

The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Founded in 1959, the goal of the organization is to open every mind to science through the strategic programming of interactive exhibits and engaging community-based camps and events. The Cox Center has expanded since its creation and now houses over 50 hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, a 3000 square foot aquarium, a miniature golf course, and a large exhibit space that displays a temporary travelling exhibit. The Cox Center is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers program, which offers a membership that is redeemable at other ASTC science and technology centers around the world. The Cox Center occupies Dreher Park alongside the Palm Beach Zoo and offers deals for entrance to both facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WonderWorks (museum)</span> American science entertainment center

WonderWorks is an entertainment center focused on science exhibits with six locations in the United States. Its buildings are commonly built as if they are upside down.

Science tourism is a travel topic grouping scientific attractions. It covers interests in visiting and exploring scientific landmarks, including museums, laboratories, observatories and universities. It also includes visits to see events of scientific interest, such as solar eclipses.

References

  1. https://www.osc.org/
  2. "Location Matters: various points from 'Ernest Saves Christmas'". Orlando Weekly. June 10, 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  3. "Orlando Science Center hopes Kids Town can be boom town". Orlando Sentinel. September 9, 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  4. "Spark STEM Fest - Orlando Science Center" . Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  5. "Orlando Science Center to offer adults-only night". 8 February 2016.