Exploration Place facts for kids
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The Exploration Place next to
the Arkansas River (2013) |
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| Established | April 1, 2000 |
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| Location | 300 North McLean Blvd, Wichita, Kansas 67203 United States |
| Type | Science museum |
Exploration Place is an awesome science museum located right by the Arkansas River in Wichita, Kansas. It's a special place where you can learn about science, technology, and the world around you through fun, hands-on exhibits. This museum is a non-profit organization, which means it's all about education and helping people learn!
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History of Exploration Place
How the Museum Started
Back in the 1980s, people in Wichita had a great idea. They wanted to combine two smaller museums: the Wichita Omnisphere and Science Center and the Children's Museum of Wichita. The goal was to create one big, amazing science center for everyone.
In 1992, a big fundraising effort began. With help from a generous gift by Velma Lunt Wallace, money from the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County, and many other donations, the dream came true! Exploration Place officially opened its doors in the spring of 2000.
Who Supports the Museum?
Exploration Place gets its support from a few different places. Visitors pay for admission, and members pay yearly dues. The local government in Sedgwick County also helps out. Plus, many individuals, companies, and foundations donate money because they believe in the museum's mission.
In 2019, over 345,000 people visited Exploration Place! This included nearly 280,000 people who came to the museum itself. Another 66,000 people learned through the museum's special outreach programs that visit schools and communities.
The Museum Building
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Designing a Unique Building
Construction on the museum began in May 1997 and took about two and a half years to finish. The building was designed by a famous architect named Moshe Safdie from Boston. The entire property covers about 20 acres (that's like 15 football fields!), and the building itself is 100,000 square feet inside.
The tallest part of the building, which is the roof over the traveling exhibits area, is 70 feet high. That's almost as tall as a seven-story building! If you walked around the inside edges of both museum buildings, you'd go about one mile.
The "Island Building"
One part of the museum is called the "Island Building." It's named this because it's surrounded by water! The Arkansas River is on one side, and a special reflecting pond is on the other. The pond is designed to make it look like the river flows right between the two museum buildings. It's usually only one to three feet deep.
Even though the building is so close to the river, it's safe from floods. It was built high enough to be above the level of a "100-year flood." This means even in a very big flood, like the one in October 1998 (which was the worst in recent history), the water level was still more than 8 feet below the museum's floor!
Digital Dome Theater and Planetarium
Get ready for an amazing show! This is the largest dome theater in Kansas. It has a huge 60-foot high screen that wraps all the way around you, giving you a 360-degree view. You can watch incredible digital films here, from exploring space to diving deep into the ocean. You don't even need to pay museum admission to see a show at the dome!
Kemper Creative Learning Studio
This is a cool theater inside the museum with 140 seats. It has all the equipment needed for awesome presentations, like sound systems and stage lighting. This is where you can watch exciting live science shows! Imagine seeing experiments happen right in front of you.
Exciting Exhibits to Explore
Exploration Place is packed with interactive exhibits where you can learn by doing!
- Health Inside Out: Discover how your amazing human body works. This exhibit helps you learn about your health in a fun way.
- Bridging Art and Science: See how art and science are connected. This area shows off artists whose work combines both creativity and scientific ideas.
- Design, Build, Fly: Ever wanted to fly a plane? This exhibit has flight simulators! There's also a giant "wind wall" with thousands of tiny discs that show you how air moves when a real airplane propeller or wind generators are on.
- Explore Kansas: Learn all about the state of Kansas. Find out cool facts about its land, water, weather, and the animals and people who live there.
- Kansas in Miniature: See a tiny version of Kansas! This exhibit has small-scale models of buildings, famous landmarks, and more from the early 1950s.
- KEVA: Build Your Mind: Get creative with KEVA Planks! These small wooden planks let you build amazing structures. This exhibit focuses on design and engineering.
- Kansas Kids Connect: This area is perfect for younger kids to explore the world around them. They can discover how life in the country and city are similar.
- Traveling Exhibits: This special area often hosts new, temporary exhibits that come from all over the world. In the past, they've had exhibits like Astronaut, A T. rex Named Sue, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, CSI: The Experience, and Star Wars:® Where Science Meets Imagination!
- Where Kids Rule: Step into a three-story medieval castle! This exhibit has over 60 hands-on activities that teach you about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in a fun, king-and-queen-themed setting.
Explore Store
After exploring, check out the Explore Store! This big shop is full of science-themed items, educational toys, and other cool and quirky fun stuff. They even have fair trade items, which means the products are made ethically. Every purchase you make helps support Exploration Place! You don't need museum admission to shop here.
Outdoor Adventures
Outside the museum, you'll find Exploration Park. This area is free to visit and includes:
- Wetlands Habitat: Learn about local plants and animals in a natural wetland setting.
- Adventure Play Yard: A fun place to run, climb, and play.
- Picnic Groves: Perfect spots to enjoy a meal outdoors.
- Festival Plaza: An open area used for events and gatherings.
Hours and Admission
When to Visit
- The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- On Thursdays, they stay open later until 8:00 p.m.
- Exploration Place is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Museum Ticket Prices
- Seniors (65 and older) = $10.00
- Adults (12-64 years old) = $12.00
- Youth (3-11 years old) = $10.00
- Children (2 and under) = Free
Dome Show Ticket Prices
- Seniors (65 and older) = $7.00
- Adults (12-64 years old) = $8.00
- Youth (3-11 years old) = $6.00
- Children (2 and under) = Free
See also
- Wichita Public Library: The main library is located just across the street from Exploration Place.
