Kingman Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1934 by Edward M. Brigham |
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| Location | 175 Limit Street, Battle Creek, Michigan |
| Founder | Edward M. Brigham |
| Public transit access |  BCT: 1 |
The Kingman Museum is a cool place to explore nature and space! It's a natural history museum and a planetarium located in Battle Creek, Michigan. You can find it on the grounds of Leila Arboretum. The museum's main goal is to help people understand and appreciate the natural world, the universe, and different human cultures.
Contents
Discovering Kingman Museum
The Kingman Museum opened its doors in 1934. It was founded by Edward M. Brigham. Since then, it has been a popular spot for learning and discovery.
What You Can See
The museum has thousands of interesting items in its collection. Many of these are on display in different exhibits. These exhibits change sometimes, so there's always something new to see.
Amazing Collections
Some of the most exciting parts of the museum's collection include:
- Fossils and Rocks: You can see ancient fossils and cool rock specimens.
- Animal Displays: There are many animals preserved using taxidermy. This means they are prepared to look like they did when they were alive.
- Human Development: The museum also has exhibits that show how humans develop before birth.
- Native American History: You can learn about the history and culture of Native American people through their artifacts.
Rare Birds at the Museum
Kingman Museum is home to some very rare items. For example, it has two specimens of the imperial woodpecker. This bird is critically endangered, meaning it's very close to disappearing forever. Only about 120 specimens of this bird exist in museums worldwide. Since there are no known photos or recordings of a living imperial woodpecker, these specimens are super important. They are the only way ornithologists (scientists who study birds) can learn about this species.
The Planetarium Experience
In 2008, the Kingman Museum upgraded its planetarium. They added a special Digistar 3 fulldome projector system. This system makes the night sky and space look incredibly real all around you. It's one of only a few such systems in the world and the only one in southwest Michigan. It offers an amazing way to explore the stars and planets.
Museum Connections
Kingman Museum is part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers. This means if you have a membership at another science museum that's also part of this group, you might be able to visit Kingman Museum for free or at a reduced price! It's a great way to explore many different museums.
