Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science facts for kids
.jpg) |
|
| Established | April 8, 1984 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | January 5, 2010 |
| Location | Fresno, California |
The Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science, often called "The Met," was a cool museum in downtown Fresno, California. It was located in the San Joaquin Valley. This museum was a special partner with the Smithsonian Institution. It was also approved by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Met opened in 1984. It quickly became one of the biggest museums between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The museum was set up inside the old 1922 Fresno Bee Building. In 2005, the museum started a big update inside. It reopened on November 13, 2008. Sadly, it closed for good on January 5, 2010. This happened because it couldn't pay back the money for the renovations.
Contents
The Museum's Story
In 1978, some leaders in Fresno wanted to create a big museum. They wanted it for the whole San Joaquin Valley area. From 1981 to 1985, these community members worked hard. They raised over $5.5 million to open The Met. The museum first opened its doors on April 8, 1984.
Over the years, more than two million people visited The Met. It had many interesting programs about art and science. Some cool past exhibits included:
- A T. rex Named Sue
- Masterworks from the Albertina
- Georgia O'Keeffe: Visions of the Sublime
- Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body
The museum was recognized for its great work. In 1995, it won an "Award for Excellence" for how it was managed. This award was for non-profit groups in Northern California. The readers of The Fresno Bee newspaper also voted it the "Best Museum" every year since 1999. The museum closed on January 5, 2010. This was because it had trouble paying for its big renovation and daily costs.
Big Renovation Project
.jpg)
The museum had a huge renovation project that cost $28 million. This project updated the historic 1922 Fresno Bee Building. It made the building ready for the 21st century. The changes included more space for art and science exhibits. They also added new restrooms and elevators. The fourth and fifth floors were remodeled too. These floors had never been open for exhibits before.
The building also got stronger. Special work was done on the west wall. This work went from the very bottom up to the fifth floor. The support columns were also made stronger. The museum reopened on November 13, 2008.
The fourth floor became a large gallery space. It was also used for educational programs. The Michaelis Classroom was right next to it. The fifth floor became home to the museum's offices. It also had a meeting room and a research library.
Hands-On Science Center
While the museum was being renovated, it still offered programs. It used a temporary location for its exhibits. The museum's Reeves Family ASK Science Center moved to a new space in 2005. This center was open until July 2008.
The Reeves Family ASK Science Center was a fun place. It offered hands-on science education. It had different exhibits that changed often. After the main museum renovation was done, the science center moved back inside.
Learning and Community Programs
The museum worked hard to reach out to the community. It had several programs to help people learn:
- Mobile Met Science Outreach: This program visited schools, YMCA groups, and summer programs. It went to places from Los Baños to Visalia. It gave free, hands-on science lessons. These lessons were for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. They followed California's science learning goals.
- Docent Outreach Project: This program let teachers in grades 1 to 3 use the museum's lessons. They didn't even have to travel to the museum. The lessons were one hour long. They focused on hands-on art activities.
- Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS): This program used art to teach important skills. It helped kids learn critical thinking, communication, and how to understand images. These lessons were free for schools. They were given in English, Spanish, and Hmong.
- Met on the Move: This program started in October 2008. It had a special vehicle called the Met on the Move. This vehicle brought hands-on art and science activities to elementary schools. It visited schools in the Central San Joaquin Valley.
What Happened to the Building?
After the museum closed, the city of Fresno took over the building. It was empty for two years. Then, in April 2012, a new public access TV station moved in. This station is called Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC). CMAC uses the second floor of the building. As part of its mission, it still shows art from local artists. The other floors of the building are still empty.
Images for kids
-
The Met's Science Outreach program visits the classroom
