Gulf Coast Exploreum

Infobox Museum
name = Gulf Coast Exploreum


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established = 1998
location = 65 Government Street
Mobile, Alabama, USA
type = Interactive learning
visitors =
director = Michael W. Sullivan
curator =
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website = http://www.exploreum.net/

The Gulf Coast Exploreum is a non-profit science center that features three permanent exhibitions, a wide variety of traveling exhibitions, a virtual theater, and an IMAX theater in downtown Mobile, Alabama. The center opened in 1998 and had reached a total of 1.5 million visitors by 2007.cite web|title="Gulf Coast Exploreum reports attendance at Pompeii exhibit surpasses 100,000"|work="Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel"|url=http://www.touralabama.org/about-alabama/news/press/newsletter.cfm?ID=33|accessdate=2007-12-08]

History

In 1976 the Junior League of Mobile provided funding for research and development of a hands-on interactive museum for the children of Mobile, with this initial commitment directly leading to the creation of The Explore Center, Inc., a private, non-profit educational incorporation, and a Board of Trustees.cite web|title="About Us: Info"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://www.exploreum.net/aboutus_info.html|accessdate=2007-12-08] The board eventually raised $1.3 million to build a convert|10000|sqft|m2|0|adj=on contemporary building on Springhill Avenue adjacent to the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, and the Gulf Coast Exploreum “Museum of Science” was opened in 1983. That site was outgrown within 4 years and in 1987 a Relocation Committee was formed and determined that Mobile’s historic downtown area would be well suited for an expanded, state of the art science center and IMAX theater. A capital campaign was launched at this time with the procurement of corporate and individual contributions and commitments by officials at the city, county and federal level. After 11 years of planning and 3 years of construction, the new facility situated on Government Street between Royal and Water streets was opened in 1998 and is now suited for people of all ages.

Exhibits

The Exploreum is home to three permanent exhibits, Minds On Hall, Hands On Hall, and the Wharf of Wonder. The Minds On Hall features state of the art virtual reality exhibits.cite web|title="Minds On Hall"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://www.exploreum.net/mindsonhall.html|accessdate=2007-12-08] The Hands On Hall is the Exploreum's original exhibit gallery and contains more than 20 interactive exhibits.cite web|title="Hands On Hall"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://www.exploreum.net/handsonhall.html|accessdate=2007-12-08] The Wharf of Wonder is a community project of the Junior League of America and features an optimal learning environment for the smallest of Exploreum visitors, from infants to age 5.cite web|title="Wharf of Wonder"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://www.exploreum.net/wharf.html|accessdate=2007-12-08]

The Exploreum hosts a variety of traveling exhibits. Past traveling exhibits have included "Mysteries of Egypt: Wonderful Treasures from the Pharaoh’s Tomb" in 2001, "China! 7,000 Years of Innovation" in 2002, "International Space Station" in 2003, "The Brain: It’s All In Your Head" in 2004, "The Dead Sea Scrolls" in 2005, "Mummy: The Inside Story" in 2006, and "A Day in Pompeii" in 2007.cite web|title="About Us: Archives"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://www.exploreum.net/aboutus_archive.html|accessdate=2007-12-08] The current exhibit is "Our Body: The Universe Within", featuring actual human plastinated bodies.cite web|title="Upcoming Exhibits"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://www.exploreum.net/exhibits_upcoming.html|accessdate=2007-12-08]

Features

The Hearin-Chandler Virtual Journey Digital Theater, is a digital 3D virtual theater that displays image on a 120-degree curved screen, convert|13|ft|m|0 high by convert|32|ft|m|0 long, with a convert|16|ft|m|0|adj=on radius.cite web|title="Virtual Journeys Digital Theater"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://exploreum.com/digitaltheater.html|accessdate=2007-12-08] The J.L. Bedsole IMAX Dome Theater has featured IMAX films ranging from "Everest" in 1998 to "Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour De France" in 2008. The theater also remains the only domed IMAX theater on the Gulf Coast.cite web|title="The J.L. Bedsole IMAX Dome Theater"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://www.exploreum.net/current.html|accessdate=2007-12-08] The Ciba Lab allows visitors to participate in science demonstrations, or just observe from the amphitheater style seating.cite web|title="You Become The Scientist"|work="Gulf Coast Exploreum"|url=http://exploreum.com/cibalab.html|accessdate=2007-12-08]

References

External links

* [http://www.astc.org/ Association of Science-Technology Centers]
* [http://www.imax.com/ IMAX Corporation]