Scott Family Amazeum facts for kids
| Established | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1009 Museum Way Bentonville, Arkansas |
| Type | Children's Museum Science Center |
| Visitors | 1,679,254 (2023) |
The Scott Family Amazeum is a super fun, hands-on museum for families in Bentonville, Arkansas, USA. It's a special place where you can explore and learn about STEAM. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. The Amazeum is a non-profit organization. This means it's run for the public good, not to make money.
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Discovering the Amazeum
How the Amazeum Got Its Name
Have you ever wondered how the Amazeum got its unique name? It was actually thought up by kids! During a brainstorming session, children combined the words “Amazing” and “Museum.” This created the perfect name for a place full of wonder and discovery.
A Brief History of the Amazeum
The idea for a children's museum in Northwest Arkansas started way back in the early 2000s. Community leaders began talking about creating a special place for kids to learn. In 2006, the group officially became a non-profit organization. This allowed them to start raising money for the museum.
For almost ten years, people worked hard to gather funds. A big moment happened in April 2014 when the official groundbreaking ceremony took place. This meant construction could begin! Finally, the Amazeum opened its doors to the public in July 2015.
Many people helped make the Amazeum possible. One important supporter was Lee Scott, a former CEO of Walmart, and his family. The Walton Family Foundation also gave a lot of support.
The museum first thought about 160,000 people would visit each year. But it was much more popular! In its first full year, 311,000 visitors came to explore. By its fourth birthday, over one million people had visited the Amazeum.
The Amazeum Building
The Amazeum building is very impressive. It covers 52,000 square feet, which is a lot of space for exploring! The building has a special certification called LEED Silver. This means it was built in a way that is good for the environment.
You can see how the building is put together. Many of its supports and connections are left open. This helps you understand how buildings are constructed.
The area around the Amazeum is also great for outdoor activities. There are many trails for cycling and walking. These trails connect the museum directly to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and other parts of Bentonville.
The Amazeum has also won some awards for its design. For example, it received a Wood Design Award in 2016. This award recognized how the museum used natural materials. It also praised how well the building fit into the beautiful Ozark environment around it.
Exciting Exhibits to Explore
The Amazeum has many permanent exhibit areas. These are always there for you to enjoy. They offer different ways to learn and play.
- Tinkering Hub
- Hershey's Lab *
- The Neighborhood Market
- Art Studio
- Canopy Climber
- Lift, Load & Haul
- Cloud Theater
- Water Amazements
- Homestead Cabin and Farm
- Cave
- Nickelodeon Play Lab
- Studio Grow
- Emerging Explorers
- Outdoor Playscape
Besides these permanent areas, the museum also has a special rotating exhibit area. This area changes several times a year. It brings in new and traveling exhibits for you to discover.
- The Hershey's Lab is a very unique exhibit. It's the only one of its kind outside of The Hershey Company Headquarters. That's in Hershey, Pennsylvania!
