Cox Science Center and Aquarium facts for kids
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| Established | 1961 |
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| Location | 4801 Dreher Trail North West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Type | Science |
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is a super fun science museum in West Palm Beach, Florida. It used to be called the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. This amazing place started in 1959. Its main goal is to help everyone discover the wonders of science! They do this with cool hands-on exhibits, exciting camps, and special events.
The Cox Science Center has grown a lot over the years. Now, it has over 50 interactive exhibits. You can also explore a planetarium and a huge 3,000 square foot aquarium. Plus, there's a miniature golf course! They even have a big space for temporary traveling exhibits. The Cox Center is part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers. This means your membership might get you into other science centers around the world! It's located in Dreher Park, right next to the Palm Beach Zoo. You can often find special deals to visit both places!
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Discover the History of the Science Center
The museum started in 1959 as the Junior Museum of Palm Beach County. It was created by the Junior League of the Palm Beaches. The museum first opened its doors on October 21, 1961. It showed exhibits about marine life, animals, rocks, and farming.
In 1964, a special planetarium was finished. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin helped open it! The museum got bigger in 1971. It doubled in size to add classrooms, an auditorium, and more exhibit space. In the 1980s, the museum changed its name to the South Florida Science Museum. This new name showed that it covered more science topics.
Big changes happened in 2008. The planetarium and theater were updated for more visitors. The museum started expanding again in 2012. They added a 3,000 square foot aquarium. They also built a permanent exhibit area. This area included the "River of Grass" Everglades exhibit. It also featured the NOAA Science on a Sphere exhibit. The museum had a grand re-opening on June 6, 2013. It was renamed the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium.
In 2015, the Hall of Discovery got bigger and was updated. It added a nanotechnology exhibit. This is about super tiny things! It also got a room for young children. In 2016, an 18-hole miniature golf course opened. It was designed by famous golf experts.
On November 15, 2021, the center announced even more expansion plans. They also changed their name again! It became the Cox Science Center and Aquarium. This was part of a big plan to add more space. The new space will help teach about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). A very generous gift helped start this big project.
Explore the Aquarium
The "Aquariums of the Atlantic" exhibit is a 3,000 square foot area. It has many tanks filled with animals from Florida. You can see beautiful Queen Angels and Pink Wrasse fish. There are also sharks, seahorses, eels, and stingrays. You might even spot some Lionfish, which are not native to Florida.
The biggest tank is called "Shipwreck Cove." It holds 3,500 gallons of water! In this tank, you'll find sharks, a spotted moray eel, and barracudas. There's also a 6-foot coral reef tank. You can actually step inside the middle of this tank! The animals here come from places like the Red Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. You can also see animals from the Florida Everglades. These include alligators and turtles. The aquarium also has "Touch Tanks." Here, you can gently feel some of the marine life!
Journey Through the Marvin Dekelboum Planetarium
The planetarium offers daily shows. They use a special projector to show stars. They also have full-dome digital videos. These videos cover many different science topics.
The planetarium was first built in 1964. It was named after astronaut Buzz Aldrin. In 2008, the planetarium was updated. It was then renamed after the Dekelboum Family. This was because of a very generous gift from their family foundation.
Exciting Events at the Science Center
The Cox Science Center hosts many fun events for all ages!
- Engineer it! – Each year, the Cox Center holds a contest. Kids get to design and build different things. For example, they might build a container to protect an egg from a fall. Or they might create a roller coaster, a paper airplane, or a bottle rocket. They also design water filtration systems. Winners are chosen based on how well their designs work!
- Nights at the Museum – On the last Friday of every month, the center stays open late! You can explore all the exhibits. You can also look through the observatory telescope to see the stars. There are also booths with arts and crafts, face painting, and other activities. Each "Night at the Museum" has a special theme. Kids are encouraged to dress up to match the theme!
- GEMS Club – GEMS stands for Girls Excelling in Math and Science. This club is for girls in third to eighth grade. It meets on the last Tuesday of every month. The club offers many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) activities. These activities help girls get excited about science and technology.
- Silver Science – On the second Wednesday of each month, guests over 60 get a special discount. This includes a planetarium show. There are also guest speakers who share information on different topics.
- Birthday Parties – You can even have your birthday party at the Cox Center! They offer different party packages. These can include room rental, a party theme, and food. Some packages even include a "Science Adventure." This could be a marine touch tank, a planetarium show, or a cool chemistry lab!
- Science and Technology Camps – The Cox Center has awesome camp programs. They are for kids aged 4 to 14. These camps happen in the summer. Each week has a different theme and fun activities. Camps are held at the center. Other camp programs are available at the STEM Studio in Jupiter, Florida.
Amazing Exhibits to Explore
Traveling Exhibits
The main exhibit area at the Cox Center features temporary traveling exhibits. These exhibits usually stay for about six months. Then, they are replaced with new ones. Past exhibits have included "Mummies" from ancient Egypt. There was also a "Titanic" exhibit and "Dinosaurs Around the World." The most recent exhibit was "Astronaut." It showed visitors how astronauts train and prepare for space missions. It even had a launch simulator! You could try mental and physical activities that imitate real astronaut training.
Permanent Exhibits
The Science Center has many cool exhibits that are always there!
- Conservation Station: Learn how to protect our environment.
- Everglades Exhibit: Discover the unique ecosystem of the Florida Everglades.
- River of Grass: Explore the amazing wetlands of Florida.
- States of Matter: See how solids, liquids, and gases behave.
- Hurricane Simulator: Experience the power of a hurricane safely!
- Over 50 different brain teasers to challenge your mind.
- An interactive outdoor science trail for more hands-on fun.
- A fun themed miniature golf course.
See also
