Museum of Discovery Celebrates Reopening Anniversary
By: News Release
Updated: January 3, 2013
The Museum of Discovery will celebrate its one year anniversary since reopening following a $9.2 million renovation made possible by a Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant.
Since the January 14 reopening, the museum has welcomed more than 165,000 visitors, a 65 percent increase from the last full year of operation in 2010.
"The first year as the 'new' Museum of Discovery has exceeded everyone's expectations," said Kelley Bass, the museum's chief executive officer. "Thanks to the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, the museum has been completely transformed and much better equipped to successfully execute our mission - igniting a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.
In addition to hosting visitors, the museum reached more than 300,000 Arkansans in 2012 through its public and school outreach program.
The museum is also the hub of the Arkansas Discovery Network, a collaboration of six museums across the state established and operated by a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The other Network museum members hosted more than 185,000 visitors in 2012.
According to Bass, both the outreach program and Network are significant to the museum's mission. "The 2012 numbers show that we touched almost three times as many people outside the museum as within our own walls - helping us play an important statewide role in energizing more young people and piquing their curiosity about science, technology and related disciplines."
Visitors to the museum on Saturday and Sunday, January 12-13 are invited to participate in the anniversary celebration with complimentary punch and cookies.
For more information call 501-396-7050 or visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.
Since the January 14 reopening, the museum has welcomed more than 165,000 visitors, a 65 percent increase from the last full year of operation in 2010.
"The first year as the 'new' Museum of Discovery has exceeded everyone's expectations," said Kelley Bass, the museum's chief executive officer. "Thanks to the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, the museum has been completely transformed and much better equipped to successfully execute our mission - igniting a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment.
In addition to hosting visitors, the museum reached more than 300,000 Arkansans in 2012 through its public and school outreach program.
The museum is also the hub of the Arkansas Discovery Network, a collaboration of six museums across the state established and operated by a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The other Network museum members hosted more than 185,000 visitors in 2012.
According to Bass, both the outreach program and Network are significant to the museum's mission. "The 2012 numbers show that we touched almost three times as many people outside the museum as within our own walls - helping us play an important statewide role in energizing more young people and piquing their curiosity about science, technology and related disciplines."
Visitors to the museum on Saturday and Sunday, January 12-13 are invited to participate in the anniversary celebration with complimentary punch and cookies.
For more information call 501-396-7050 or visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.
