In 1941, the Association for Childhood Education chartered the Jacksonville Children’s Museum, initiating an evolution that led to the Museum of Science & History, one of Jacksonville’s significant cultural resources.
The institution moved into its first home, a Victorian mansion in Riverside, in 1948 and relocated in 1969 to its present location on the Downtown Southbank, next to Friendship Park.
After a name change to “Jacksonville Museum of Arts & Sciences” in 1977, the museum applied and was accepted for accreditation by the American Association of Museums in 1983.
The accreditation was renewed the first time in 1997 and again this week.
Wednesday, the museum’s board of trustees and administration welcomed guests to the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium to celebrate the accomplishment.
“This puts us on the top tier of museums,” said MOSH Executive Director Maria Hane.
She said of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, only 4 percent are accredited by the association and of those, only 3 percent are science museums. That puts MOSH on the same list as the Smithsonian Institution, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, among others.
Accreditation evaluation takes almost two years and includes submitting reports on all aspects of museum operations and site visits for review by peers.
“It’s a very intense process. It ensures that we are maintaining a standard of excellence,” said Kristi Taylor, MOSH communications manager.
During the gathering Wednesday, association President Ford Bell addressed the group via television from Washington, D.C.
“Accreditation is emblematic of an institution’s commitment to public service and to overall excellence. Attaining accreditation involves taking a hard look at yourself, allowing your peers in the field to do the same, and being judged to be superior in all areas,” Ford said.
“The citizens of Jacksonville can take great pride in the fact that their local institution is one of America’s premier museums,” he said.
For information about MOSH exhibits and educational programs, visit www.themosh.org.
356-2466
MOSH Timeline
• 1941 — The Association for Childhood Education charters The Jacksonville Children’s Museum.
• 1948 — The Jacksonville Children’s Museum moves into its first permanent home, a Victorian mansion in Riverside.
• 1965 — Construction begins on the current, centralized location Downtown on the Southbank.
• 1969 — The newly constructed Jacksonville Children’s Museum opens its doors.
• 1977 — The Jacksonville Children’s Museum becomes the Jacksonville Museum of Arts & Sciences.
• 1983 — The Jacksonville Museum of Arts & Sciences is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
• 1988 — The Jacksonville Museum of Arts & Sciences became the Museum of Science & History.
• 1994 — The current building is renovated to expand the core exhibition galleries, add program and classroom space, increase collection storage spaces and upgrade all of the support systems.
• 1996 — “Atlantic Tails - Whales, Dolphins and Manatees of North East Florida” is opened to the public.
• 1997 — “Currents of Time - A History of Jacksonville and North East Florida” is opened to the public.
• 2000 — “Jacksonville Jaguars: History of a Hometown Team” opens.
• 2002 — JEA Science Theater and Aqua Expo opened to the public.
• 2004 — “Universe of Science” opened to the public.
• 2006 — Florida Naturalist’s Center opened to the public.
• 2008 — “Water Worlds” opened to the public.
• 2009 — “The Body Within” exhibit opened to the public.
• 2010 — Bryan-Gooding Planetarium opened to the public.