The California Science Center (sometimes spelled California ScienCenter) is a

state agency A government or state agency, sometimes an appointed commission, is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government The machinery of government (sometimes abbreviated as MoG) is the interconnected structures and proc ...

and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, next to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California. Billed as the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, the California Science Center is a public-private partnership between the State of California and the California Science Center Foundation. The California Natural Resources Agency oversees the California Science Center and the California African American Museum. Founded in 1951 as the "California Museum of Science and Industry", the Museum was remodeled and renamed in 1998 as the "California Science Center". The California Science Center hosts the

California State Science Fair The California Science and Engineering Fair, previously known as the California State Science Fair, is a science fair held annually at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, except 2020 when it was cancelled. It was established in 1952. T ...

annually. Admission includes access to the permanent exhibits, such as the Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'' and other prominent aircraft and spacecraft, and to various demonstrations. A separate ticket is required for the

IMAX IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio (approximately either 1.43:1 or 1.90:1) and steep stadium seating. Graeme F ...

movies, most special traveling exhibitions, and special activities that include a climbing wall, motion simulator, and a high-wire bicycle.

Affiliations

The center has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is a member of the

Association of Science and Technology Centers The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a non-profit, global organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States, that provides a collective voice, professional support, and programming opportunities for science c ...

. The museum is also an affiliate in the Smithsonian Affiliations program.

Current permanent exhibits

Ecosystems

The two-story, 45,000-square-foot exhibit features display zones with live animals and

aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

s about wildlife and adaptation in different ecosystems, including a river, desert,

polar region The polar regions, also called the frigid geographical zone, zones or polar zones, of Earth are the regions of the planet that surround its geographical poles (the North Pole, North and South Poles), lying within the polar circles. These high l ...

, deep sea, ocean, island and urban areas, as well as the entire planet Earth.

Creative World

An area with hands-on activities and exhibits that explore innovation and invention, with themes involving construction, energy and transportation.

World of Life

Examines the processes of life and similarities among organisms, including food, body organs like the heart and brain, senses, defenses against threats, how living things reproduce which includes a hatching chick display, DNA, and microscopic organisms. A titan arum (''

Amorphophallus titanum ''Amorphophallus'' (from Ancient Greek , "without form, misshapen" + ''phallos'', "penis", referring to the shape of the prominent spadix) is a large genus of some 200 tropical and subtropical tuberous herbaceous plants from the ''Arum'' family ...

'') flower is now on loan from the

Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, known as The Huntington, is a collections-based educational and research institution established by Henry E. Huntington Henry Edwards Huntington (February 27, 1850 – May 23, 1927) w ...

Space exhibits

Gemini 11 capsule (front) at California Science Center

* Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule which carried Ham, a chimpanzee, the first great ape in space (1961) * Gemini 11 capsule, flown by Pete Conrad and Richard F. Gordon Jr. in 1966 * Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Command Module from the 1975 mission * Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'' in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion * Space Shuttle external tank immediately outside the Oschin Pavilion * SKETCH Foundation Gallery in Science Court - exhibits about the Solar System, space travel and aviation, displays of historic aircraft, space vehicles and equipment, and space telescopes

Aircraft

* Douglas DC-8 jetliner * Lockheed F-104D Starfighter * Lockheed A-12 Blackbird two-seater trainer, Serial Number 60-6927 *Replica

Bell X-1 The Bell X-1 (Bell Model 44) is a rocket engine–powered aircraft, designated originally as the XS-1, and was a joint National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics– U.S. Army Air Forces–U.S. Air Force supersonic research project built by Be ...

(movie prop from '' The Right Stuff'') *1902 Wright Glider replica *1929 Velie Monocoupe * Northrop T-38 Talon Jet Trainer, Serial Number 58-1196 * Northrop F-20 Tigershark * McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet Serial Number 161725

Robotic spacecraft

*Engineering prototype for Viking Lander *'' Cassini-Huygens'' planetary probe (replica) *'' Pioneer 10'' planetary probe (replica) * Mariner IV planetary probe (replica) * Pioneer-Venus planetary probe (replica)

History

State Exhibition

The museum's history dates back to the first California State Exhibition building, which opened in Exposition Park in Los Angeles in 1912, the site of an agricultural fairground from 1872 to 1910. The brick and terra cotta building, designed by William D. Coates, Jr., state architect, and N. Ellery, state engineer, displayed agriculturally-based natural resources and industrial products from across the state, including

ranching A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...

, fish and game,

coal mining Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

, gold mining, oil production, and lumbering, as well as some of the state's recreational attractions. After World War II, the building also featured exhibits about state science and technology industries.

California Museum of Science and Industry

In 1951, the exhibition became the "California Museum of Science and Industry". The State Exhibition building was renamed in honor of major donor and trustee Howard F. Ahmanson as the Howard F. Ahmanson Building. The hands-on interactive exhibits included themes on agriculture, transportation, electricity, energy, industries, and minerals. In 1961, the museum opened a new science wing that featured " Mathematica: A World of Numbers... and Beyond", an exhibit sponsored by IBM and designed by Charles and Ray Eames to visually demonstrate fundamental mathematical concepts. Interaction stations demonstrated different concepts including celestial mechanics, the

Möbius strip In mathematics, a Möbius strip, Möbius band, or Möbius loop is a surface that can be formed by attaching the ends of a strip of paper together with a half-twist. As a mathematical object, it was discovered by Johann Benedict Listing and Augu ...

, multiplication, symmetry, and projective geometry. The original exhibit closed in 1998, and is now on display at the New York Hall of Science. The Hall of Health was added in 1968.

1984 changes

In preparation for the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the secon ...

, the museum added new exhibits on earthquakes and economics, and an

theatre. The opening and closing ceremonies for the games were held in the

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (also known as the L.A. Coliseum) is a multi-purpose stadium in the Exposition Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Conceived as a hallmark of civic pride, the Coliseum was commissioned in 1921 as a mem ...

, which is adjacent to the museum.

California African American Museum

The California African American Museum was founded in 1981 and housed in the California Museum of Science and Industry building until 1984, when its own facility was opened adjacent to the California Aerospace Museum.

1990s and closing

In 1994, the museum's building was damaged by the Northridge earthquake. The California Museum of Science and Industry closed in 1996 to prepare for a new facility.

California Aerospace Museum

The "California Aerospace Museum" was also opened in 1984 adjacent to and operated by the California Museum of Science and Industry to coincide with the Summer Olympics. It was also known as Aerospace Hall but also commonly known as the California Air and Space Museum/Gallery and the SKETCH Foundation Gallery, and was the first major public work of architect

Frank Gehry Frank Owen Gehry, , FAIA (; ; born ) is a Canadian-born American architect and designer. A number of his buildings, including his private residence in Santa Monica, California, have become world-renowned attractions. His works are considered ...

. The museum focused on the State's history as a leader in the aviation and aerospace industries and featured a giant, hangar-like space with aircraft and space vehicles and artifacts. The building, now known as the Air and Space Gallery, was closed in 2011. In 2012 the building was listed on the California Register of Historical Resources, but its future is unknown.

Transformation to California Science Center

In 1988 the museum's leadership began a to develop a three-phase, 25-year master plan to transform the institution from a science museum to a science education facility. This new facility would be known as the ''California Science Center''. The original museum building closed its doors in 1996 to prepare for the new construction.

Phase I

The new construction was designed by Portland, Oregon-based Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership. Changes included: * Redesign of the original main building (Howard F. Ahmanson building). The north facade of the Science Center retains the facade of former State Exposition Building that opened to the Exposition Park Rose Garden, but the remainder of the original building was demolished. * Science Plaza - Exhibits outside the main entrance of aircraft and science principles. * Exhibits in the new building ** World of Life - Explores the science of life in five galleries. ** Creative World - Highlights technology in transportation, communications and structures. Features include a virtual reality exhibit to play sports using virtual reality and an earthquake simulator. ** Special Exhibits gallery - Exhibits in this room have included a '' Titanic'' exhibit, a magic exhibit, a toy exhibit, and the

Human Body The human body is the structure of a Human, human being. It is composed of many different types of Cell (biology), cells that together create Tissue (biology), tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the life, viabi ...

exhibit. ** ExploraStore - Store specializing in scientific and educational items. * IMAX theater - a new seven-story

screen Phase I was completed and opened in 1998, when the museum was opened and officially renamed the California Science Center.

Phase II

* Ecosystems - opened in 2010 * Renovated the historic

160th Regiment State Armory The Wallis Annenberg Building (originally the 160th Regiment State Armory, and also referred to as the Exposition Park Armory) is a building located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California. It was built in 1912 and designed by architect J.W ...

building into the new "Wallis Annenberg Building for Science Learning and Innovation", opened in 2004 The building includes the Amgen Center for Science Learning and the K-5 Science Center School, a public magnet school officially known as the Dr. Theodore T. Alexander Jr. Science Center School. * SKETCH Foundation Gallery, Air and Space Exhibits - opened in 2002, a temporary gallery featuring interactive exhibits and artifacts on continuing loan from NASA and The Smithsonian Institution. * Air and Space Gallery (former California Aerospace Museum) closed in 2011, with displays moved into the main Science Center in the SKETCH Foundation Gallery. * In 2012, the California Science Center opened a temporary steel structure known as the "

Samuel Oschin Samuel Oschin (1914 – July 28, 2003),Los Ang ...

Pavilion" to house the Space Shuttle ''Endeavour''. The structure was designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership and is planned to be replaced by the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center on the east side of the Science Center. In 2015, the museum received the last remaining Space Shuttle external tank.

Phase III

*Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center - planned to open in 2025, the addition was formerly titled "Worlds Beyond" The ZGF designed addition is currently under construction. It will house a total of 150 new exhibits, including the permanent home of the Space Shuttle

Endeavour Endeavour or endeavor may refer to: People Fictional characters * Endeavour Morse, central character of the ''Inspector Morse'' novels by Colin Dexter * Endeavor, the hero name for the character Enji Todoroki from the anime series ''My Hero A ...

. The center will include a shuttle gallery, which will permanently house Space Shuttle

, an air gallery that will house 20 airplanes, and a space gallery.

Gallery

File:California Science Center January 2013 001.jpg, View of entire building File:California Science Center January 2013 002.jpg, Entrance to California Science Center, with IMAX Theater at the left File:IMAX at California Science Center.JPG, IMAX Theater at the California Science Center File:California Science Center January 2013 003.jpg, Roof trusses above third floor File:California Science Center January 2013 004.jpg, Roof above third floor

References

External links

*
usc.edu
Brief story about the California Museum of Science and Industry

Remembering the California Museum of Science & Industry
EHDD Architecture
Phase II architects {{authority control Museums in Los Angeles Exposition Park (Los Angeles) Aerospace museums in California Science museums in California History museums in California IMAX venues Science centers Space Shuttle tourist attractions Science and technology in Greater Los Angeles California Natural Resources Agency Science Center, California Smithsonian Institution affiliates Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums Association of Science-Technology Centers member institutions Museums established in 1951 1951 establishments in California Expressionist architecture South Los Angeles Exposition Park (Los Angeles neighborhood) Postmodern architecture in California