Gulf Coast Exploreum
Encyclopedia
The Gulf Coast Exploreum is a non-profit science center
that features three permanent exhibitions, a wide variety of traveling exhibitions, a virtual theater, and an IMAX theater in downtown Mobile, Alabama
. The center opened in 1998 and had reached a total of 1.5 million visitors by 2007.
In 1976 the Junior League
of Mobile provided funding for research and development of a hands-on interactive museum for the children of Mobile, with this initial commitment directly leading to the creation of The Explore Center, Inc., a private, non-profit educational incorporation, and a Board of Trustees. The board eventually raised $1.3 million to build a 10000 square feet (929 m²) contemporary building on Springhill Avenue adjacent to the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
, and the Gulf Coast Exploreum “Museum of Science” was opened in 1983. That site was outgrown within 4 years and in 1987 a Relocation Committee was formed and determined that Mobile’s historic downtown area would be well suited for an expanded, state of the art
science center and IMAX theater. A capital campaign was launched at this time with the procurement of corporate and individual contributions and commitments by officials at the city, county and federal level. After 11 years of planning and 3 years of construction, the new facility situated on Government Street between Royal and Water streets was opened in 1998 and is now suited for people of all ages.
The Exploreum is home to four permanent exhibit: My BodyWorks, Minds On Hall, Hands On Hall, and the Wharf of Wonder. My BodyWorks opened Winter 2009 and contains 50 interactive, technologically advanced exhibits, all custom designed for the Exploreum. A community project presented by Infirmary Health Foundation, it is dedicated to human health and workforce development. My BodyWorks also features a fully functioning biology lab where science educators present materials that delve further into the topics presented in the gallery.
The Minds On Hall features state of the art virtual reality
exhibits. The Hands On Hall is the Exploreum's original exhibit gallery and contains more than 20 interactive exhibits. The Wharf of Wonder is a community project of the Junior League of America and features an optimal learning environment for the smallest of Exploreum visitors, from infants to age 5.
The Exploreum hosts a variety of traveling exhibits. Past traveling exhibits have included "Mysteries of Egypt
: Wonderful Treasures from the Pharaoh
’s Tomb" in 2001, "China
! 7,000 Years of Innovation" in 2002, "International Space Station
" in 2003, "The Brain
: It’s All In Your Head" in 2004, "The Dead Sea Scrolls
" in 2005, "Mummy
: The Inside Story" in 2006, and "A Day in Pompeii
" in 2007. In 2008, the Exploreum hosted "Our Body: The Universe Within", featuring actual human plastinated
bodies.
virtual theater that displays image on a 120-degree curved screen, 13 feet (4 m) high by 32 feet (10 m) long, with a 16 feet (5 m) radius. The J.L. Bedsole IMAX Dome Theater has featured IMAX films ranging from "Everest" in 1998 to "Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour De France" in 2008. The theater also remains the only domed IMAX theater on the Gulf Coast. The Ciba
Lab allows visitors to participate in science demonstrations, or just observe from the amphitheater style seating.
Science center
A science center or science centre is a science museum that emphasizes a hands-on approach, featuring interactive exhibits that encourage visitors to experiment and explore....
that features three permanent exhibitions, a wide variety of traveling exhibitions, a virtual theater, and an IMAX theater in downtown Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. The center opened in 1998 and had reached a total of 1.5 million visitors by 2007.
History
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
of Mobile provided funding for research and development of a hands-on interactive museum for the children of Mobile, with this initial commitment directly leading to the creation of The Explore Center, Inc., a private, non-profit educational incorporation, and a Board of Trustees. The board eventually raised $1.3 million to build a 10000 square feet (929 m²) contemporary building on Springhill Avenue adjacent to the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
The Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, also known as the Bragg-Mitchell House, is a historic house museum in Mobile, Alabama. It was built in 1855 by Judge John Bragg and is one of the most photographed buildings in the city as well as one of the more popular tourist attractions. The house has been...
, and the Gulf Coast Exploreum “Museum of Science” was opened in 1983. That site was outgrown within 4 years and in 1987 a Relocation Committee was formed and determined that Mobile’s historic downtown area would be well suited for an expanded, state of the art
State of the art
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time. It also refers to the level of development reached at any particular time as a result of the latest methodologies employed.- Origin :The earliest use of the term...
science center and IMAX theater. A capital campaign was launched at this time with the procurement of corporate and individual contributions and commitments by officials at the city, county and federal level. After 11 years of planning and 3 years of construction, the new facility situated on Government Street between Royal and Water streets was opened in 1998 and is now suited for people of all ages.
Exhibits
The Minds On Hall features state of the art virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
exhibits. The Hands On Hall is the Exploreum's original exhibit gallery and contains more than 20 interactive exhibits. The Wharf of Wonder is a community project of the Junior League of America and features an optimal learning environment for the smallest of Exploreum visitors, from infants to age 5.
The Exploreum hosts a variety of traveling exhibits. Past traveling exhibits have included "Mysteries of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
: Wonderful Treasures from the Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
’s Tomb" in 2001, "China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
! 7,000 Years of Innovation" in 2002, "International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
" in 2003, "The Brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
: It’s All In Your Head" in 2004, "The Dead Sea Scrolls
Dead Sea scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 texts from the Hebrew Bible and extra-biblical documents found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from which they derive their name...
" in 2005, "Mummy
Mummy
A mummy is a body, human or animal, whose skin and organs have been preserved by either intentional or incidental exposure to chemicals, extreme coldness , very low humidity, or lack of air when bodies are submerged in bogs, so that the recovered body will not decay further if kept in cool and dry...
: The Inside Story" in 2006, and "A Day in Pompeii
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
" in 2007. In 2008, the Exploreum hosted "Our Body: The Universe Within", featuring actual human plastinated
Plastination
Plastination is a technique or process used in anatomy to preserve bodies or body parts. The water and fat are replaced by certain plastics, yielding specimens that can be touched, do not smell or decay, and even retain most properties of the original sample....
bodies.
Features
The Hearin-Chandler Virtual Journeys Digital Theater, is a digital 3D3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
virtual theater that displays image on a 120-degree curved screen, 13 feet (4 m) high by 32 feet (10 m) long, with a 16 feet (5 m) radius. The J.L. Bedsole IMAX Dome Theater has featured IMAX films ranging from "Everest" in 1998 to "Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour De France" in 2008. The theater also remains the only domed IMAX theater on the Gulf Coast. The Ciba
Ciba Specialty Chemicals
Ciba was a chemical company based in and near Basel, Switzerland. "Ciba" stood for "Chemische Industrie Basel" . It was formed as the non-pharmaceuticals elements of Novartis were spun out in 1997, following the merger in the previous year of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz that created Novartis.In 2008,...
Lab allows visitors to participate in science demonstrations, or just observe from the amphitheater style seating.