Maria Hane
Executive Director
Museum of Science & History
Mission
The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) inspires the joy of lifelong learning by bringing to life the sciences and regional history.
Serving Jacksonville
The museum was chartered in 1941 and opened the doors of its first permanent home, the Robert Milam house on Riverside Avenue, in 1948. In 1968, the museum moved to its current location on the southbank of the St. Johns River.
Those served
MOSH serves more than 165,000 people annually and 85 percent of visitors are families. Although MOSH is well known in the Jacksonville area, nearly 30 percent of visitors are from surrounding counties and outside of the state.
Biggest challenge
Ensuring a fresh experience on every visit is a challenge my staff and I tackle each day. We have to be innovative to deliver meaningful programming to a wide range of visitors from teachers to students and senior citizens to Pre-K children. We are challenged to make sure each visitor learns something relevant to his or her life and has fun doing it.
Biggest satisfaction
My office is right off the third floor of the museum. I love when the museum is so busy and full of excited energy – and loud – that I have to put the phone down or find something else to concentrate on. It inspires me to walk out of my office where I can hear the excited questions and comments that are creating the cacophony. It is when my everyday work is woven among the throngs of school groups or when I cross the paths of guests after a public science show ends and a group of smiling and excited adults and children are talking about what they experienced and learned. I may just be heading to a meeting with my mind on budgets and planning and I am happily moved to a more grounded place.
We received a letter from a member who wrote me to share how much the museum meant to her and her son. She noticed all the energy and upgrades to the museum and took time out of her day to tell us about it. That is a satisfying moment.
Hometown
Gainesville
First experience with community service
I was very involved in service work in high school through a service club and was hooked. My first experience in Jacksonville was working at Springfield Neighborhood Housing Service.
Your job before MOSH
Deputy director of The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Upcoming events
• “Prehistoric Predators,” an animatronic dinosaur exhibit, is on display through Jan. 9.
• Daily programs are held in the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium. Featured programs are currently “Astronaut,” “Black Holes” and “Oasis in Space.” Tickets can be purchased at www.moshplanetarium.org
• “Cosmic Concerts” are held each Friday night at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at www.moshplanetarium.org.
• On Jan. 27, MOSH will present “Making Stuff: Bacardi’s Sensory Science.” Guests will learn the science behind making rum in this workshop hosted by Bacardi-Martini Product Development Inc. Bacardi’s senior beverage scientist will lead program participants in a hands-on activity to learn how the sense of smell and taste play an important role in the creation of rum. The event is 6-8 p.m. Cost is $10 per person, and $5 for members. You must be 21 years of age or older to participate.
Contact information
1025 Museum Circle
396-MOSH (6674)
[email protected]
www.themosh.org