Museum of Discovery facts for kids
Exterior view of entrance, November 2020
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| Established | 1927 |
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| Location | 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150 Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Type | Science museum |
The Museum of Discovery is a super fun science museum located in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. It used to be called the Arkansas Museum of Natural History and Antiquities. The museum is in a cool old building right by the Arkansas River in the River Market District.
This museum is all about STEM education, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. All the exhibits are hands-on, so you can touch and try things out! It even has a world-record-breaking musical tesla coil and a big collection of live animals.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
The Museum of Discovery first opened in 1927. It was started by a writer named Bernie Babcock. She wanted to show that people in Arkansas were smart and had cool cultural places. Her first museum was in a storefront on Main Street.
Some of her early exhibits were quite interesting! She had things like a supposed head of a criminal and a fake artifact called King Crowley. She also collected stuffed animals from other museums, old art, and dolls from different cultures.
To make sure the museum would last, Bernie Babcock gave it to the city of Little Rock in 1929. It then moved to the city hall.
Growing and Changing
In 1942, the museum moved to the Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal. This building was fixed up thanks to a local club, a generous person named Frederick W. Allsop, and a government program called the Works Progress Administration. The museum stayed there for 55 years!
Over time, the museum got more and better items for its collection. It even received a copy of the "Arkansas Dinosaur" fossil, called Arkansaurus fridayi. The museum also had a statue of this dinosaur.
The museum's name changed a few times as it grew. In 1964, it became the Museum of Science and Natural History. Then, in 1983, it was renamed the Arkansas Museum of Science and History. By 1993, the museum was so professional that it received special approval from the American Alliance of Museums.
A New Home and Focus
In 1997 and 1998, the museum moved to its current location in the River Market. It also got its current name: the Museum of Discovery: Arkansas' Museum of Science and History. In 2003, another museum, the Children's Museum of Arkansas, joined with the Museum of Discovery.
In 2008, the museum received a huge grant of $9.2 million. This money helped them expand and make big improvements. They added three new interactive exhibits and a new entrance from Clinton Avenue.
The Museum of Discovery reopened in January 2012 with a new focus on STEM education. This means they really want to help kids learn about science, technology, engineering, and math in fun ways.
Cool Science and Challenges
Kevin Delaney, who used to be in charge of visitor experiences at the museum, would do amazing science experiments for guests. He also started a program called "Science After Dark" for adults. Later, he became a science expert on the Science Channel and even on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon!
On July 4, 2015, the Museum of Discovery showed off its Guinness World Record musical bi-polar tesla coil. This amazing device was built in Arizona and given to the museum. It can play music using electricity!
In April 2019, the museum worked with a company to create a special hands-on display. This display was designed to help children in Arkansas who are on the autism spectrum.
In February 2021, a water pipe burst and caused a lot of damage to the museum. It had to close for major repairs. But don't worry, it reopened on August 21, 2021, and is ready for visitors again!
What You Can See and Do
The museum is in a historic building in the River Market District, right by the Arkansas River. The Clinton Presidential Center is also very close by.
The Museum of Discovery is all about STEM education. This means you'll find lots of exhibits that teach you about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. All the exhibits are interactive, so you can touch, play, and learn! The museum also has a large collection of live animals that you can see.
The Amazing Tesla Coil
One of the most exciting things at the museum is the musical bi-polar tesla coil. It's named after its inventor, Nikola Tesla, who helped create the electricity system we use today. A tesla coil is a device that makes very high-voltage electricity that you can actually see!
The Museum of Discovery's tesla coil can shoot out electricity to the beat of different songs. It shares the record for the world's largest bi-polar tesla coil with another museum in Tennessee. This powerful device can produce 200,000 volts of electricity! It's a truly electrifying experience.
See also
- MOD., Adelaide, South Australia
- Museum of Discovery and Science, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
