New name, mission for science museum
New name, mission for science museum

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By John Estus
Published: November 8, 2007

In a sense, the buses of schoolchildren who arrived at what was formerly Omniplex on Wednesday morning were the first folks to ever visit the museum.

The museum's directors had just announced a new focus and name — Science Museum Oklahoma — and promised fresh exhibits intended to capture a modern generation of science lovers.

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The name and curriculum changes are the result of three years of planning to save the once-struggling science museum and make it relevant in the modern science era.

"It's a big change in what we're going to be doing,” said James Farris, chairman of the museum's board. "The new name more accurately describes the future of this institution.”

Science Museum Oklahoma's emphasis will be on education, particularly physical science education, officials said.

Officials plan to redo 150,000 square feet of exhibition space and say the changes planned in coming months are among the most aggressive at any museum in the nation.

Past problems improving
The announcement marked more than just a name change for the museum. Just two years ago, it faced serious financial and personnel turmoil.

Officials had considered closing Omniplex because it had lost more than $7 million in seven years. The museum's executive director, Max Ary, had taken a leave of absence after he was indicted on charges he stole artifacts from a Kansas museum and sold them. He was convicted and didn't return as executive director.

Meanwhile, museum officials elected to keep the longtime Oklahoma City destination open, but they were forced to reduce its staff and reorganize its business structure, Farris said.

It paid off. The museum has posted a profit the past two years and attendance is up, Farris said.

Support from local governments, philanthropic grants and other sources, including $1.5 million from the corporate sector, have helped the museum become less reliant on the dwindling resources of an endowment that once funded most of its operations.

Late philanthropist John Kirkpatrick was instrumental in the creation of that endowment and in the relocation of the museum from its original location at State Fair Park to the 366,000-square-foot building at 2100 NE 52.

Part of a larger mission
Physical sciences are a strong suit of higher education and research in Oklahoma. Farris said Science Museum Oklahoma's upcoming changes will help them get young museum-goers more interested in science at a younger age and ultimately benefit science statewide.

"If you don't get children interested in science by third grade, you're going to lose them,” Farris said.

Officials now are developing a curriculum to correspond with the planned new exhibits and activities at Science Museum Oklahoma.

"More than anything else, this is about education,” Mayor Mick Cornett said of the museum's changes announced at a news conference Tuesday.

New exhibits
Science Museum Oklahoma will host the following exhibits and projects in the future:

GadgetTrees: A permanent exhibit that allows visitors to learn about nature through the use of simple machines. It will include a two-story tree house and the largest oak tree west of the Mississippi and what museum officials said is the nation's tallest spiral slide.

Destination Space: Oklahomans' role in space exploration will highlight this exhibit, which highlights the laws of physics and allows visitors to plan a space voyage.

Also, the museum is a part of the Oklahoma Museum Network, which is using a $7.2 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to bring traveling exhibits to museums throughout the state.


 


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With a few more refunds and lack of interest and support, I am sure it will be broght up to first class condition in a hurry. After all, you get what you don't/won't pay for. I, too, would prefer the state name as the primary defining adjective in the name.
Arlie, Midwest City - Nov 8, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I love the "anagram-style" logo and the new name. I can't wait for the "Our Body" exhibit to arrive!
Amanda, Edmond - Nov 8, 2007 at 1:42 pm
It looks to me like the word SCIENCE is written in Russian. The "E's" look like dyslexic "S's."
Sandie, 0klahoma City - Nov 8, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I agree that they should fix the place up. It needs a lot of work. Other than that, I hold the same opinion that I had when they changed the Myriad to "Cox Convention Center"...It will always be the Omniplex to me.
Robert, Tinker AFB - Nov 8, 2007 at 9:35 am
i remember going to the omniplex back when i was a kid and it was an ok thing to see, then i went as a senior in high school and got bored of it halfway through because it was the same stuff still there in its original place. I dont know why they dont do more to fix the place. As far as the name change to Science Museum Oklahoma it really doesnt matter much, to many it will be the onmiplex, unless they make changes really soon, it will end up boring like it was and closed
Brian, Oklahoma City - Nov 8, 2007 at 3:42 am
I am excited to hear of the coming updates. My family frequents the Zoo and each time we go I always hope that the Omniplex will have a sign up that says something new is coming. I am glad to hear of the upcoming changes.
James, Yukon - Nov 8, 2007 at 12:00 am
I grew up going to the Omniplex, and have been eager to take my kids there. I do hope the renaming effort was a last minute idea at the last board meeting and not part of the three year process!
Andy, Lubbock - Nov 7, 2007 at 9:35 pm
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At the very least they should have put Oklahoma in the title first, not last. The new name does not sound good.
The planetarium is the best. I hope they keep it.
Deb, Edmond - Nov 7, 2007 at 4:58 pm
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Sorry about the double post.
Tom, Bristow - Nov 7, 2007 at 4:32 pm
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Call it a dump or landfill. A dump is a dump. I took my kids when they were small, it was a great adventure. Took my grandson and demanded my money back and took him to other points of interest. Fix the place, then worry about the name. Besides, what think tank came up with a name that contains as an afterthought the name of our State. Think about it, is it Sooners Oklahoma, or Cowboy Hall of Fame Oklahoma, State Capital Oklahoma. Ask some third and fourth graders, they will come up with a great name for the facility, but fix it before you invite them there.
Tom, Bristow - Nov 7, 2007 at 4:31 pm
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Call it a dump or landfill. A dump is a dump. I took my kids when they were small, it was a great adventure. Took my grandson and demanded my money back and took him to other points of interest. Fix the place, then worry about the name. Besides, what think tank came up with a name that contains as an afterthought the name of our State. Think about it, is it Sooners Oklahoma, or Cowboy Hall of Fame Oklahoma, State Capital Oklahoma. Ask some third and fourth graders, they will come up with a great name for the facility, but fix it before you invite them there.
Tom, Bristow - Nov 7, 2007 at 4:31 pm
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I used to love this place when I was little. I camped out inside it when I was in cub scouts. It was a little dingy and the second floor was always a huge disapointment. I'm glad to hear that they are trying to get this place to be a place we can be proud of and a place to host touring exhibits.
Jeff, Edmond - Nov 7, 2007 at 4:08 pm
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I am so excited to see this place get the attention it deserves. It is the best place around for the family! It lets kids and adults explore and investigate - things we do best! I loved this place when I was a kid and love it even more now. I am a scientist today because of places like this that encourage creativity. Congrats to the new "Science Museum Oklahoma!"
Sherry, Oklahoma City - Nov 7, 2007 at 3:37 pm
I hope they get it fixed up. It was a neat place to go when it was in good shape.
Me, My Town - Nov 7, 2007 at 3:21 pm
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I was there two weeks ago and the exhibits are still broken. We got our money back. Even the brand new Gadgetree was missing pieces and looked way too beat up for an exhibit that opened this year. I'm sure they haven't fixed anything in the past two weeks. They are only making money because they have not been spending any on maintenance. It's still a dump.
Ryan, Oklahoma City - Nov 7, 2007 at 2:31 pm
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As long as they keep the planitrium to show the different constalations then I think things will be okay. Some of the exhibits needed to be gotten rid of but that is still one of my favorite places and I'm 23.
Rachel, Del City - Nov 7, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I wish they had installed I-Max. It affords many more feature films and 3D opportunities. The closest I-max theatre is in Tulsa. It is always booked up. As for science museums, I like to compare them to the Moody Gardens in Galveston. The Moody has a theatre called 4D Cinema. During the short movie presentation, the place rumbles, smoke billows, it snows, it rains, and it smells. Thus 4D. I hope they consider shows like this because it really doesn't take that much space. They offer the Polar Express this time of year. It shows a shortened version of the Tom Hanks feature. When he serves hot chocolate on the train you smell hot chocolate. When the train pulls out of the station the theatre fills with simulated steam.
Sparky (Mark), Oklahoma City - Nov 7, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Bring back the Titanic exhibit. That thing was great to go through.
Brian, Moore - Nov 7, 2007 at 1:13 pm
The new name is generic and too wordy.
Brett, Oklahoma City - Nov 7, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I'm glad they are reviving this place. Last time we went, many of the exhibits were broken, and it seemed a little dingy. Used to be really fun.
Reader, Eastern Oklahoma - Nov 7, 2007 at 11:54 am

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