Science Museum of Virginia facts for kids
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| Established | 1970 |
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| Location | 2500 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia |
| Type | Science museum |
The Science Museum of Virginia is an exciting science museum located in Richmond, Virginia. It first opened its doors in 1970 and is part of the state government of Virginia. The museum is housed in a beautiful old building called the Broad Street Station, which was built way back in 1917.
Contents
How the Museum Began
Early Ideas for a Science Museum
The idea for a science museum in Virginia started a long time ago. In 1906, the state government approved money for a simple "exhibits center." This center was meant to show off minerals and timber from Virginia at a big event called the Jamestown Exposition in 1907. After the exposition, many of these items were moved to Richmond. This became known as the "State Museum" in 1910. Over the years, it added more natural history displays.
Later, in 1942, people started talking about creating a real State science museum. A group even suggested creating a "Virginia Museum of Science" in 1943. However, because of World War II and money problems afterward, the plans were put on hold.
By 1964, the "State Museum" displays were taken apart. Their collections were sent to different state universities. But this closing made scientists in Virginia want a museum even more! Between 1965 and 1967, a group of scientists, led by Dr. Roscoe D. Hughes, worked hard. They convinced Virginia's Governor Mills E. Godwin to help create the State Science Museum.
The Museum Opens Its Doors
Thanks to all that effort, the Science Museum of Virginia was officially created on July 1, 1970.
For a few years, the museum looked for a temporary home. Then, friends of the museum suggested using part of the old Broad Street Station. The state had recently bought this historic train station. It was built in 1917 in a grand, old style by architect John Russell Pope. The museum staff moved into the station on January 22, 1976.
On January 6, 1977, Governor Godwin celebrated the opening of the museum's first exhibit, "The Discovery Room." This event marked the rebirth of the Broad Street Station and the success of over 70 years of dreaming about a science museum in Virginia.
Amazing Exhibits and Features
Popular Exhibits Over the Years
The Science Museum of Virginia has always had exciting exhibits.
- In 1981, a much bigger Aquarium opened. That same year, the museum dedicated the world's largest special sundial in its parking lot. This sundial was even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records!
- In 1982, the museum showed off "Crystal World." This was the biggest exhibit about crystallography (the study of crystals) in the world. They also displayed the Solar Challenger. This was the first successful solar-powered airplane. It had just flown from Paris to London using only the sun's energy!
The Dome: A Journey Through Space
In 1983, the museum opened its new Universe Planetarium & Space Theater, now called The Dome. This theater has a special projector that was the first of its kind. It could take visitors on pretend trips through time and space! It could also show huge 70 mm OMNIMAX films. The sound system had over 100 speakers. It was powerful enough to make you feel like you were in an earthquake or a rocket launch! The huge domed screen was 76 feet wide. It was the largest in the world at the time and is still the biggest screen in Virginia today.
In 2014, The Dome got an upgrade with a new digital projection system.
The Grand Kugel
In 2003, the museum unveiled the Grand Kugel. This was the world's largest kugel ball. A kugel ball is a giant, perfectly round stone ball that floats on a thin layer of water. The Grand Kugel was carved from an 86-ton block of black granite. It was over 8 feet wide!
Soon after it was installed, the original Grand Kugel started to crack. A new kugel ball was put in its place in October 2005. The original cracked kugel is still on display behind the museum.
Large Outdoor Displays
The museum also has large exhibits in its former train loading area. These include:
- A Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) steam locomotive and its tender, called Kanawha class #2732.
- The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (RF&P) "Car One" business car.
- The Aluminaut, which was the world's first aluminum submarine. It was built in the 1960s and even helped find a "lost" atomic bomb in 1966!
Recent Exhibitions
In 2016, the museum opened a new permanent exhibit called "Speed." It features a real Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird airplane hanging from the ceiling! This amazing plane was moved from the Virginia Aviation Museum.
In 2017, a special traveling exhibit called Da Vinci—Alive the Experience opened. This exhibit explored the art and science of Leonardo da Vinci.
Other Museum Locations
Besides its main location in Richmond, the Danville Science Center in Danville, Virginia, is also connected to the Science Museum of Virginia.
