Exploration Place

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Exploration Place
The Exploration Place-Wichita, Kansas-June 2013.jpg
The Exploration Place in June 2013
Established April 1, 2000
Location 300 North McLean Blvd,
Wichita, KS 67203 USA
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type Science Museum
President Janice Luth [1]
Website www.exploration.org

Exploration Place is a science museum in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution.[citation needed]

History

During the 1980s, a plan to consolidate the city-owned Wichita Omnisphere and Science Center and the Children's Museum of Wichita was proposed.[2] In 1992, a capital funds campaign was launched, and with an endowment from Velma Lunt Wallace, funds from the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County, and other donations,[3] the museum opened in the spring of 2000.

In 2005, Sedgwick County began its partial funding of the science center and funding will continue through 2014. The museum is also supported by admissions, Membership dues, other public support and voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. In 2013 the museum saw record attendance with more than 210,000 people visiting, which is above the average of 170,000 annual visitors.

Building

A view of the floor to ceiling windows on the island building.

Construction began May 1997 and took 2 ½ years. Internationally acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie of Boston designed the building. There are 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) and 20 acres (81,000 m2) on the property. The tallest point of the building is the peak of the roof of the traveling exhibits space and is 70 feet (21 m) above the floor (nearly 7 stories high). The combined distance around the interior perimeter of both buildings is approximately one mile.[citation needed]

The "Island Building" is named because it is surrounded by water, with the Arkansas River on one side and the reflecting pond on the other. The reflecting pond is between the buildings to create the illusion that looks like the river runs between the buildings. The reflecting pond is one to three feet deep. Even though the building is so close to the river it is not prone to flooding because it is above the 100-year flood level. During the flood in October 1998, the worst in recent history, the water level was still more than 8 feet (2.4 m) below the finished floor level.[citation needed]

Boeing Dome Theater and Planetarium

This venue is the largest dome theater in Kansas with a 60-foot high, 360-degree screen. It shows digital films. General museum admission is not required to see a show at the dome.[citation needed]

Kemper Creative Learning Studio

This venue is a 150-seat theater equipped with audio/visual equipment, sound system, podium and stage lighting. It is the home of live science shows.[citation needed]

Exhibits

EP's three-story castle.
  • Big Mouth - a seven-foot tall model of the human mouth that tests good oral health knowledge
  • Bridging Art and Science - featuring local artists whose work illustrates the important ties between art and science
  • Exploring Flight and Design - includes flight simulators and a giant "wind wall" made of thousands of tiny reflective discs that show air currents generated by a real airplane propeller and two wind generators mounted on a tower.
  • Exploring Our Only Home - features a stream table, fossil dig, a real ancient mammoth tusk, two tornado simulators and selected small animals fount in the area.
  • Kansas in Miniature - a small-scale recreation of early-1950s Kansas buildings, landmarks and more.
  • KEVA: Build Your Mind - features 4 1/2-inch long KEVA Planks and focuses on design aesthetics and engineering.
  • Nano - features real world applications to nanoscale science, engineering, and technology
  • Tots' Spot - an immersive area for toddlers to play with educational toys and costumes.
  • Traveling exhibits - an area which has hosted more than 30 different temporary exhibits including A T. rex Named Sue, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, CSI: The Experience, and Star Wars:® Where Science Meets Imagination and most recently Dinosaurs Unearthed.
  • Where Kids Rule - includes a three-story medieval castle where children can experiencemore than 60 hands-on, STEM-based exhibits.

Explore Store

This 1,900 square-foot shopping extravaganza connects you to science, educational toys and even funky fun! The store is now one of the few places in the area to feature fair trade items. All purchases help support Exploration Place. General museum admission is not required to shop the store.[citation needed]

Outdoors

  • MiniGolf - 18-hole putting course[citation needed]
  • Exploration Park - free venue that includes wetlands habitat, adventure play yard, picnic groves and Festival Plaza[citation needed]

Hours and Prices

Hours

Monday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday from 12:00 - 5 p.m.[citation needed]

* Closed Mondays from Labor Day through Mid-March.

Prices:

Museum Admission

Adult (12-64) $9.50

Senior (65+) $8.00

Youth (3-11) $6.00

2 and Under Free

Dome Admission

Adults (12 - 64) $5.00

Senior (65+) $4.00

Youth (3 - 11) $3.00

2 and Under Free

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Exploration_Place&oldid=4010639"