Mid-America Science Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1979 |
|---|---|
| Location | 500 Mid America Blvd Hot Springs, Arkansas |
| Type | Science museum |
The Mid-America Science Museum is a super fun place in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It's packed with over 100 hands-on exhibits. You can touch, play, and learn about science! Many of the cool exhibits have been there since the early 1980s.
You can also see some amazing moving sculptures by Rowland Emett. These are called "kinetic sculptures." One famous one is The Featherstone-Kite Openwork Basketweave Mark Two Gentleman’s Flying Machine. You might even spot some inventions that look like they came from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
One of the most exciting exhibits is a huge Tesla coil. This machine can create amazing sparks and produce 1.5 million volts of electricity!
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Discover the Museum's Location
The museum is in a beautiful wooded park. It's about 6.5 miles west of downtown Hot Springs. You can find it on Mid-America Boulevard, just off Arkansas Highway 227. It's a great spot to explore science and nature.
Exciting Museum Upgrades
In November 2011, the museum got a big grant to make things even better. This money helped them renovate the building and add new exhibits. The museum worked hard to raise more funds to match the grant.
The museum officially reopened on March 7, 2015. It now has 75 brand new exhibits! These interactive artworks were created by experts from the Exploratorium's Global Studios team. Many of the older exhibits were also fixed up and made new again.
The Amazing Digital Dome Theater
A large donation in 2013 helped the museum reach its fundraising goal. This gift made the awesome Oaklawn Foundation Digital Dome Theater possible. This theater has surround sound and a huge 180-degree screen. It's perfect for exploring the night sky! The special software was installed by Sky-Skan. Up to 50 people can sit and learn about space exploration. It's a fantastic way to learn about science and history.
Explore the Outdoor Sky-walk
The museum also has a special outdoor area called the Bob Wheeler Science Sky-walk. It was designed to connect the museum to the nature around it. This walkway is 32 feet high and has its own hands-on exhibits! It offers a unique outdoor adventure for everyone visiting the Mid-America Science Museum.
