Clay Center (Charleston, West Virginia) facts for kids
The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia is a super cool place in Charleston, West Virginia. It's a huge building, about 240,000-square-foot (22,000 m2) big! This center is all about showing off performing arts, visual arts, and science. It's pretty special because it has all three of these things under one roof, which is rare in the United States.
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What is the Clay Center?
The Clay Center is a fun and educational spot for everyone. It helps people learn about and enjoy different types of art and science. It's a place where you can watch amazing shows, see beautiful artwork, and explore exciting science exhibits.
The Avampato Discovery Museum
The Avampato Discovery Museum is a big part of the Clay Center. It has two floors packed with hands-on science exhibits. This means you can touch, play, and experiment to learn!
You can explore different science topics like:
- How things are built (engineering)
- Sounds, lights, and colors
- Energy and magnets
- Our planet Earth
- Staying healthy and well
There's even a special area just for younger kids, aged five and under. The museum also has an art gallery. Here, you can see art from their own collection and special exhibits that travel from other places.
Caperton Planetarium and Theater
Inside the Avampato Discovery Museum, you'll find the Caperton Planetarium and Theater. This awesome theater has a giant dome screen. You can watch cool shows about space and planets here. They also show big movies that make you feel like you're right in the middle of the action! You need a separate ticket for the theater.
Juliet Art Museum
The Juliet Art Museum is another amazing part of the Clay Center. This museum often hosts new art shows from artists and museums all over the country. They also show off pieces from their own large collection. This means there's always something new to see every few months!
The Juliet Art Museum also offers many educational programs. You can take tours through the art galleries to learn about the art. They also have workshops where you can try making art yourself!
Other Cool Places at the Clay Center
The Clay Center has more than just museums. It also has special places for performances:
- The Maier Foundation Performance Hall is a large theater with 1,883 seats. It's known for its excellent sound and great views from every seat.
- The Walker Theater is a smaller, flexible theater. It's called a "black-box theater" because it can be set up in many different ways. It can hold between 150 and 200 people, depending on the show.
History of the Clay Center
The Clay Center first opened its doors on July 12, 2003. Building this center was a huge project for West Virginia. It was meant to help the economy, culture, and education in the state.
The center is named after Buckner and Lyell Clay. They were very generous people from West Virginia who helped fund the project. Construction for the Clay Center started in 1999.
Before the Clay Center, there was a museum called the Sunrise Museum in Charleston. It was located in the Sunrise Mansion. When the Clay Center opened, the Sunrise Museum closed. Its science and art collections became part of the new Avampato Discovery Museum at the Clay Center.
