New York Hall of Science Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
New York Hall of Science

Entrance with the original building, constructed for the 1964 New York World's Fair, in the background (2019)
Established	1964 (1964)
Location	47-01 111th Street Corona, New York
Type	Science-technology museum
Accreditation	ASTC
Public transit access	train to 111th Street Q23, Q58 at 108th Street Q48 at Roosevelt Avenue
Nearest car park	On-site ($15 fee)

The New York Hall of Science, often called NYSCI, is an exciting science museum located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens. It's special because it's one of the last buildings left from the 1964 New York World's Fair. NYSCI is New York City's only hands-on center for science and technology. It has over 400 exhibits where you can touch and explore. These exhibits teach you about biology, chemistry, and physics.

A Look at NYSCI's History
- Reopening and Growth
- Recent Challenges
  - How NYSCI Gets Funding
Exciting Exhibits to Explore
Gallery
See also

A Look at NYSCI's History

The New York Hall of Science first opened its doors in 1964. It was part of the big 1964 World's Fair held in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Back then, there were only a few science museums around. Many places built for the Fair closed soon after. But the Hall of Science stayed open. It became a helpful place for students to learn about science. Its early exhibits were simple. But they included plans for the world's first public "atomarium." This was a place where people could learn about atoms.

The Hall stayed open for 15 years. Then, in 1979, it closed for big repairs. It was supposed to reopen in 1983. But by 1982, the museum was in bad shape. A newspaper said paint was peeling and there was graffiti. The area around the museum was also damaged. Even though repairs finished in 1983, the city stopped funding the museum.

Reopening and Growth

In 1984, New York City hired a physicist named Alan J. Friedman. His job was to help the museum change. It used to show exhibits about science fiction and the future. Now, it would focus on science in everyday life. When Friedman started, the museum was almost empty. It had water on the floor, and all the old exhibits were gone. Even light fixtures were missing. But the repairs kept going.

The museum finally reopened in 1986. This was seven years after it had closed. New York City had a science museum again! One of the new exhibits was a $40,000 display about a quantum atom. This was part of a larger $400,000 renovation. The museum quickly became popular. More people visited than expected. This led the city to find more money for the museum to grow even more.

When it reopened, the museum also offered a special program. Science students could train there. Then, they could study at nearby Queens College for free. In return, they promised to teach science in city schools for at least two years. This helped schools that needed science teachers.

The museum kept helping city schoolchildren. In 1991, it planned a huge, ten-year project. This $80 million plan would make the museum even bigger. It would help meet the needs of more and more visitors. More expansion started in 1996. This included a new entrance, a cafe, a gift shop, and a theater. A 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m²) science playground was also added. These changes showed that science museums need to keep their displays fresh. Because of its constant improvements, the Hall became a New York City cultural institution. This is a special title given to only a few organizations.

Recent Challenges

Like many museums in New York, the Hall of Science closed for much of 2020 and 2021. This was because of the coronavirus pandemic. The museum reopened in July 2021. But it had to close again in September. This time, it was due to flooding from Hurricane Ida. Luckily, the museum was able to reopen in February 2022.

How NYSCI Gets Funding

In 2005, the Hall of Science received a big grant. It was part of $20 million given to many arts and social service groups in New York City. This money came from the Carnegie Corporation. It was made possible by a donation from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Hall has continued to get money from many sources. This funding is very important for its daily operations and future growth. This was a good change from the 1990s. Back then, big budget cuts made it hard for the museum to operate well.

Exciting Exhibits to Explore

The Hall of Science mainly focuses on teaching children aged 1 to 17. Most visitors are city kids who are new to science. The museum has a large collection of permanent exhibits. It also hosts many traveling exhibitions. The museum was one of the first to ask young visitors what they thought of the exhibits. Their ideas helped prepare for the reopening in 1986.

The Hall's permanent exhibitions include: