Herrett Center for Arts and Science facts for kids

The Herrett Center for Arts and Science is a cool museum located in Twin Falls, Idaho, USA. It's right on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho. This museum is a special place where you can learn about many things. It covers anthropology (the study of humans), natural history (like animals and plants), astronomy (space and stars), and art.

The museum has many interesting items. These include old tools and objects from different cultures, especially from the Americas. It also has items from nature and beautiful artworks by local artists. Inside the Center, you'll find the Faulkner Planetarium, where you can explore the stars. There's also the Centennial Observatory for looking at space, a museum store, and a large room for different events.

Museum Galleries: Explore History and Nature

The museum has several galleries filled with amazing exhibits. You can see many old tools and items from different cultures. There are also natural history items, mostly from North and South America.

One very special exhibit is the Simon Clovis cache. This is a collection of over thirty stone tools found in Idaho in 1961. These tools were made by the ancient Clovis people. Another cool exhibit is a copy of the Huntington Canyon Mammoth. This is a nearly complete skeleton of a huge Columbian mammoth. It was found in Utah in 1988. The Jean B. King Gallery of Art also hosts several art shows each year. These often include art made by students and teachers.

Faulkner Planetarium: Journey Through Space

The Faulkner Planetarium opened in November 1995. When it first opened, it was the biggest planetarium in Idaho. It had 151 seats under a large 50-foot (15.2 m) dome. (Later, seven seats were removed.)

When it first started, the planetarium used advanced digital projectors. It also had many slide projectors and a powerful sound system. In the fall of 2013, the planetarium got a big upgrade. It received a new fulldome video system that makes you feel like you're really in space. It also got new LED lights and a Dolby 5.1 surround sound system. Another upgrade happened in May 2020. The planetarium offers shows for school groups and the public all year long.

Centennial Observatory: Stargazing Fun

The Centennial Observatory opened in May 2004. At that time, it had the largest wheelchair-accessible public telescope in the world. (Other telescopes have since become larger.)

The observatory houses a powerful 24-inch (0.6 m) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope. This telescope is computer-controlled and sits under a 20-foot (6 m) dome. The observatory also has several smaller telescopes you can use. You can visit the observatory throughout the year to look at stars and planets. Both the public and school groups are welcome.

Rick Allen Room: A Space for Events

The Rick Allen Room is a large, flexible space. It measures 50 by 58 feet. From this room, you can see the eastern part of the CSI campus. It has a patio on its south side, perfect for outdoor parties or events. There's also a courtyard for events on the lawn.

This room can hold up to 240 chairs for an audience. It can also seat 176 people for dining at twenty-two round tables. The room has full audio and video equipment. This includes two ceiling projectors, wall screens, and microphones. It can also be set up like a classroom for 144 people. There's even a small kitchen area with a counter, sink, refrigerator, microwave, and ice maker.

History of the Herrett Center

The museum started in the 1950s because of Norman Herrett (1904-1979). He owned a jewelry store in Twin Falls, Idaho. Norman loved astronomy. He built a small building behind his store. It had an observatory on the roof and a planetarium on the ground floor. He also built a room next to his store to show the old tools and items he collected from his trips. Later, he added art by local artists.

His first center, called the Herrett Arts and Science Center, had a mix of exhibits. Some even had moving parts! The planetarium had special projectors and cool effects. The observatory had two telescopes. Local students were trained to give tours and shows to school groups.

In 1972, Norman Herrett made a deal with the new College of Southern Idaho. He agreed to give his collections to the College. In return, the College would build a new building on campus to house them. The Herrett Center museum opened on the CSI campus in 1980, shortly after Norman Herrett passed away. It first had anthropology and art galleries. More parts were added in 1995 and 2003-2004. These additions included more gallery space, the Faulkner Planetarium, new storage for artifacts, the Rick Allen multi-purpose room, and the Centennial Observatory.

See also

• List of astronomical observatories
• List of astronomical societies
• List of planetariums
• Lists of telescopes