The Big Idea (museum) facts for kids
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| Established | 15 April 2000 |
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| Dissolved | 15 August 2003 |
| Location | Irvine, North Ayrshire |
| Type | Science Centre |
| Visitors |  50,000 (2003) |
| Architect | Ian Russell |
The Big Idea was a fun science centre located in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was built on the land where Alfred Nobel once made explosives. The centre opened in 2000 to celebrate amazing inventions and the people who created them.
Building The Big Idea cost about £14 million. Sadly, it only stayed open for three years. It closed in 2003 because not enough people visited. Today, the building is still empty on the Ardeer Peninsula.
The Big Idea: A Look Back
The idea for The Big Idea came about for the new millennium. It was meant to be a place to celebrate inventors from Scotland and around the world. Many groups helped pay for it, including the Millennium Commission.
The museum showed off many cool things for visitors. It had five main areas: Power, Control, Materials, Communication, and Mechanisms. There was also a theatre named after Alfred Nobel.
A time capsule is buried under the museum's reception area. Students from Ardeer Primary School placed it there in June 1999. Visitors reached the museum by walking across a special bridge. This bridge, called the 'Bridge of Scottish Inventions', could move to let ships pass. It has been stuck in the open position since the museum closed.
Why The Big Idea Closed
When The Big Idea first opened in 2000, it was very popular. About 120,000 people visited that first year! But by 2003, only 50,000 people came to the centre. This was much less than needed to keep it running.
Another big science centre, the Glasgow Science Centre, opened in 2001. It was bigger and easier for many people to get to. This made it harder for The Big Idea to attract visitors.
Because of the low visitor numbers, The Big Idea could not pay its running costs. It closed its doors in early 2003. The building has remained mostly untouched since then. Its quiet location has helped keep it safe.
See also
- List of time capsules
- Irvine Harbour
- Glasgow Science Centre
- Dynamic Earth
