Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

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Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
Whitaker center logo.png
Whitaker Center logo
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts.jpg
Whitaker Center as seen from Market Street
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
Established9 September 1999 (1999-09-09)
Location222 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Coordinates 40°15′37″N76°52′51″W / 40.2604°N 76.8807°W / 40.2604; -76.8807
Type Science and Art museum
Architect Hugh Hardy
Public transit access Capital Area Transit
Nearest parkingParking garage & on street
Website www.whitakercenter.org

The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It present exhibits related to science and the performing arts, and also offers a digital cinema.

Contents

This education center encompasses a total of 130,000 square feet (12,000 m2), including the three main components, plus STAGE TWO, Discovery Lab classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, the AMP Grand Lobby and the Kunkel Gallery.

History

In September 1997, the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts was established at the cost of $52.7 million public-private partnership, which The Whitaker Foundation and the Helen F. Whitaker Fund have contributed over $8 million to the establishment of the center.

In recognition of these grants, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is named in memory of the founder of AMP Incorporated (now TE Connectivity), Uncas A. Whitaker and his wife Helen F. Whitaker.

The National Science Foundation awarded the center a grant in support of a permanent exhibit for the new Science Center.

Whitaker Center attractions

Whitaker Center patrons in line Whitaker Center patrons in line.jpg
Whitaker Center patrons in line

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Sunoco Performance Theater showcases 698 seats within the Orchestra, Mezzanine, and Balcony levels. The theater's design features 14 theater boxes over those levels. Currently, there are seven resident companies at the theater: Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Harrisburg Choral Society, Harrisburg Opera Association, Market Square Concerts, Susquehanna Chorale, Theatre Harrisburg and The Wednesday Club.

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References

  1. "Here's why the Whitaker Center won't be showing 'Interstellar' on IMAX". 6 November 2014.