| Gulf Coast Exploreum | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1983 |
| Location | 65 Government Street Mobile, Alabama, USA |
| Type | Interactive learning |
| Director | Caroline Etherton |
| Website | http://www.exploreum.com/ |
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.[1]
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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.[2] The board eventually raised $1.3 million to build a 10,000-square-foot (929 m2) contemporary building on Springhill Avenue adjacent to the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, and the Gulf Coast Exploreum “Museum of Science” was opened in 1983.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2]
The Exploreum is home to four permanent exhibit: My BodyWorks, Minds On Hall, Hands On Hall, and the Wharf of Wonder. My BodyWorks opened Winter 2009 and contains 50 interactive, technologically advanced exhibits, all custom designed for the Exploreum. A community project presented by Infirmary Health Foundation, it is dedicated to human health and workforce development. My BodyWorks also features a fully functioning biology lab where science educators present materials that delve further into the topics presented in the gallery.
The Minds On Hall features state of the art virtual reality exhibits.[3] The Hands On Hall is the Exploreum's original exhibit gallery and contains more than 20 interactive exhibits.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] In 2008, the Exploreum hosted "Our Body: The Universe Within", featuring actual human plastinated bodies.[7]
The Hearin-Chandler Virtual Journeys Digital Theater, is a digital 3D virtual theater that displays image on a 120-degree curved screen, 13 feet (4 m) high by 32 feet (10 m) long, with a 16-foot (5 m) radius.[8] 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.[9] The Ciba Lab allows visitors to participate in science demonstrations, or just observe from the amphitheater style seating.[10]