Science Museum of Western Virginia facts for kids
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Established | 1970 |
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Location | One Market Square SE, 4th Floor Roanoke, Virginia |
Type | Science museum |
The Science Museum of Western Virginia is an exciting science museum found in Roanoke, Virginia. It's a place where you can explore many cool topics through hands-on exhibits. You can learn about how our environment works, how to keep your body healthy, and even how to write computer code.
The museum also shows you how scientists use the scientific method to solve problems. Plus, you can discover the science behind your favorite toys and games! It has a special area called a maker space where you can build and create. There's also a garden with different plants, focusing on how food grows.
The Science Museum of Western Virginia works with Virginia Tech to host the yearly Virginia Science Festival. This festival is a big event that celebrates science and learning for everyone.
Museum History
The Science Museum of Western Virginia was officially started in January 1970. It was the very first science museum in the state of Virginia.
Early Locations
When it first opened, the museum was quite small. It was located in the basement of a building called Cherry Hill in South Roanoke. This space was only about 400 square feet.
In 1976, the museum moved to a bigger place. It went to the old Tinker Creek School, which was a 3,000 square-foot building. This school was built during World War I.
Moving Downtown
In 1983, the museum moved again to its current home. It moved into a large, five-story building called the Center in the Square. This building used to be a warehouse in the city's downtown market area. It was made into a center for many different museums and non-profit groups.