by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Workspace: Behind the scenes at the Museum of Science & History
What began as the Jacksonville Children’s Museum in 1941 has evolved over the years into an award-winning cultural and educational resource. Originally housed in a Victorian home in Riverside, the museum moved to its Southbank location in 1969. Eight years later the institution’s name was changed to the Jacksonville Museum of Arts and Sciences and it became the Museum of Science & History in 1988.
Last year more than 127,000 guests went through the doors to view exhibits and have hands-on experiences. The one thing that has been constant in the museum’s long history is change. There’s always something new in the works at MOSH. The building has been expanded and renovated several times and more changes are planned.
The museum’s iconic dinosaur fossil was for years on display in the lobby and it will soon return to that location. That will make way for a larger classroom area. Another project will add a new “Space Science Gallery” adjacent to the Alexander Brest Planetarium. It will display artifacts from America’s space program including a replica Apollo capsule and will serve as an orientation area for the planetarium.
“We have a two-year exhibit plan,” said MOSH Executive Director Maria Hane.
The plan involves diversifying the programming to reach a wider audience.
“The museum serves families. That is clearly our base,” said Hane. “But we want to build our audience with teens and seniors. We’re also going to add more educational programs for adults and a lecture series.”
Other future programs on the drawing board include a class in model boat building followed by a miniature regatta in Friendship Fountain and a workshop that will teach people what goes on behind the scenes to design and construct a new exhibit. The workshop will be held in MOSH’s fabrication shop and participants will get to help build a new exhibit.
“We think people would be intrigued by the process,” said Hane.
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