Highlands Museum and Discovery Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1984 |
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| Location | 1620 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 |
| Type | Heritage center, Science center |
| Public transit access | Ashland Bus System |
The Highlands Museum and Discovery Center is a cool place in Ashland, Kentucky, United States. It's like two museums in one! It's a heritage center, which means it shows off local history. It's also a science center, with fun science displays especially for kids. The museum also has programs that teach people outside its walls.
Contents
History of the Museum
How It Started
The museum first opened in 1984. It was called the Kentucky Highlands Museum back then. Its first home was the old Mayo Mansion in Ashland.
Moving to a New Home
By 1994, the museum needed more room. So, it moved to a bigger building. This new home was the former C.H. Parsons Department Store Building. This building is in Ashland's historic Commercial Historic District. In 1997, the museum got its current name: the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center.
Growing and Changing
Around 2003 and 2004, the museum started making plans to improve its spaces. They wanted to add more hands-on exhibits. These new exhibits would teach visitors about Ashland's history. They would also cover the history of the Eastern Mountain Coal Fields.
The first part of this big plan began in November 2005. It was finished in January 2006. The second part started in the fall of 2006. This happened after Perry and Susan Madden, who owned the Parsons Building, gave it to a college foundation.
Becoming the Owner
The gift of the building came with a special rule. The museum had to stay in the Parsons Building. It also had to work with Ashland Community and Technical College. This allowed the college to use the building for its own programs.
However, in July 2013, the foundation decided to sell the building. They said it was because of money problems. But the museum wanted to keep its home! So, in November 2013, the museum bought the building itself. This means the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center now owns its historic home.
See also
- List of museums in Huntington, West Virginia
