Cox Science Center and Aquarium facts for kids
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| Established | 1961 |
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| Location | 4801 Dreher Trail North West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Type | Science |
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is a fun and exciting science museum located in West Palm Beach, Florida. It used to be called the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. This amazing place started in 1959 with a big goal: to help everyone discover the wonders of science! They do this through cool, hands-on exhibits, exciting camps, and special events.
The Cox Science Center has grown a lot over the years. Now, it has more than 50 interactive exhibits where you can touch and explore. There's also a planetarium to explore space, a huge 3,000 square foot aquarium, a miniature golf course, and a special area for temporary exhibits that change often. The Cox Center is part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers, which means your membership might even get you into other science centers around the world! It's also right next to the Palm Beach Zoo in Dreher Park, and you can sometimes get special deals to visit both places.
Contents
A Look at History
The museum first opened its doors on October 21, 1961. It was called the Junior Museum of Palm Beach County back then. Its main focus was on natural sciences, like animals, plants, and rocks.
In 1964, something really cool happened: a planetarium was finished! It was even dedicated by the famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin. The museum kept growing, and in 1971, it doubled in size. This new space allowed for more classrooms, an auditorium, and a bigger area for exhibits. In the 1980s, the theater and auditorium were updated. The museum then changed its name to the South Florida Science Museum to show that it covered a wider range of science topics.
Big changes happened again in 2008 when the planetarium and theater were renovated to welcome even more visitors. In 2012, the museum expanded once more. It added a large 3,000 square foot aquarium and another 3,000 square foot area for permanent exhibits. These new exhibits included the "River of Grass" Everglades display and the NOAA Science on a Sphere exhibit. The museum had a grand re-opening on June 6, 2013, and was renamed the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium.
More improvements came in 2015. The Hall of Discovery, located in the west wing, was updated. It gained a cool nanotechnology exhibit and a special room for young children to learn. In 2016, an 18-hole miniature golf course opened. It was designed by golf course expert Jim Fazio and professional golfer Gary Nicklaus.
On November 15, 2021, the museum announced even bigger plans for the future! They also revealed their new name: the Cox Science Center and Aquarium. This was part of a huge $45 million project to expand the center. A very generous gift of $20 million from Howard Ellis Cox Jr. and Wendy Cox helped kick off this big plan. This gift was the largest in the center's 60-year history! The expansion aims to add 130,000 square feet of space for programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
Exploring the Aquarium
The "Aquariums of the Atlantic" is a 3,000 square foot area filled with amazing sea creatures. You'll see many types of fish native to Florida, like Queen Angels, Pink Wrasse, sharks, seahorses, eels, and stingrays. There are even some invasive species, like the Lionfish.
The biggest tank is called "Shipwreck Cove." It holds 3,500 gallons of water and is home to sharks, a spotted moray eel, white fin remoras, lobsters, and barracudas. Another cool feature is a 6-foot coral reef tank. It has a hollow center that lets you step inside and feel like you're surrounded by the reef! The animals in this tank come from places like the Red Sea, Hawaiian Islands, Indo-Pacific, and the Atlantic Ocean.
You can also see animals native to the Florida Everglades, such as alligators and turtles, on display. The aquarium even has "touch tanks" where you can gently feel some of the marine life!
Marvin Dekelboum Planetarium
The planetarium is a fantastic place to learn about space and the stars. It offers daily shows using a traditional star projector. It also has full-dome digital video presentations on many different science topics.
When the museum first started in 1959, a new wing was built in 1964 to include the planetarium. It was dedicated by and named after astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Later, in 2008, the planetarium and theater were updated. They were renamed after the Dekelboum Family, who generously supported the center.
The Dekelboum Family Foundation made a very large donation in 2004 to help build a new facility. This support helped the museum raise over $20 million to build the newly named Dekelboum Science Center and Dekelboum Planetarium.
Besides its amazing star shows and digital presentations, the planetarium also has special programs for the community. Students and visitors can enjoy hands-on activities and interactive events to learn about astronomy and space science. These programs help the center teach more people about STEM education, continuing the Dekelboum Family's support for science.
Exciting Exhibits
Traveling Exhibits
The main exhibit floor at the Cox Center often features temporary traveling exhibits. These exhibits usually stay for about six months before a new one arrives. In the past, visitors have explored fascinating topics like an Egyptian "Mummies" exhibit, the story of the "Titanic," and "Dinosaurs Around the World." A recent exhibit was "Astronaut," which showed visitors what it's like to train for space missions with NASA. It even had a launch simulator and fun activities that copied real astronaut training!
Permanent Exhibits
The Science Center is also home to many permanent exhibits that you can enjoy all the time. These include:
- Conservation Station
- Everglades Exhibit
- River of Grass
- States of Matter
- Hurricane Simulator
- Over 50 brain teasers
- An interactive outdoor science trail
- Themed miniature golf
See also
