Not all things get better with age, but the Maryland Science Center is looking nifty as it turns 50.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Science Center has planned an entire year of special events, displays of historic milestones, a new brand identity, and the opening of new exhibits and visitor experiences.
In June 1976, President Jimmy Carter prepared to lead the nation’s bicentennial celebration, “All in the Family” was the top television show, and “Afternoon Delight” by the Starlight Vocal Band topped the music charts. Here in Baltimore, the Maryland Science Center opened its doors at the Inner Harbor, marking the start of an educational legacy of hands-on, interactive science experiences. It was also the first major attraction in the newly rejuvenated area of the city.
Not only did the Science Center’s opening launch the Inner Harbor’s new identity as a family destination, it fulfilled the Maryland Academy of Science’s mission to be “a focal point for scientific activities… to strengthen and extend its activities in public education and civic service.” After 50 years, there are no signs of slowing down. Au contraire, plans for the future are robust and ambitious.
The year-long celebration starts Saturday, June 14 with the “Best Day Ever” festival, showcasing classic Science Center demonstrations, such as the hair-raising Van de Graaff generator and smoky liquid nitrogen, and 1976 admission prices.
Other anniversary events throughout the year will be marked with “50,” like the Mess Fest in August, which will include 50 balloons filled with paint dropped from the Science Center roof, and 50 Mento-and-Coke explosions.
In September, there will be a Science Arcade special event highlighting retro video games, and Music Under the Dome (at the Davis Planetarium) in March will be dedicated to top tunes from the 1970s.
One of the special 50th Anniversary exhibits will chronicle the Maryland Science Center’s history with a timeline of historic photos and videos. Opening on June 13 on the first floor of the museum, the exhibit will teach visitors about the earliest experiences of people who came to the Science Center when it first opened, and how the museum has had such a meaningful impact on so many people.
Also on June 13, the Maryland Science Center will unveil its new brand logo. Previous logos represented institutional priorities when they were developed—the red ring from 30 years ago mirrored the neon on the then-new IMAX Theater, while the content of the 2004 addition included a dinosaur, planes, and human body images. The new logo will reflect the timeless Science Center experience of energy, fun, and the process of exploration.
In the late fall, visitors will see the fruits of the Maryland Science Center’s ambitious $10 million “Inspire, Empower and Engage: The 50th Anniversary Campaign” with “Space,” a new 5,000-square-foot exhibit on space exploration and the expansion and renovation of The Shed maker space.
In “Space,” people will be able to participate in dozens of interactive tasks while they think about what life might be beyond planet earth. They can simulate landing spacecraft, manipulate robotic arms to perform tasks “in space,” and feel how humans might react to gravity on different planets.
The expanded Shed on the second floor will have more workstations for families and groups for building, tinkering, and reassembling projects. These improvements are the largest renovations to the Maryland Science Center building in 20 years.
Plazas facing the Inner Harbor and Key Highway will also be renovated over the course of the year to be greener spaces with plants, grasses, and natural surfaces.
“For 50 years, the Maryland Science Center experience and our Inner Harbor location have been a powerful source of inspiration and ideas, awareness and affirmation, to millions of people,” said Mark Potter, president and CEO of the Maryland Science Center. “Researchers who make life-saving discoveries were first excited about science in our exhibits. Scientists who reveal the complexities of space were introduced to the wonders of the galaxies in our Davis Planetarium. Doctors and teachers, business leaders and community advocates, felt comfortable asking ‘why’ and ‘why not’ in our classroom programs and in our labs. From the 400,000 people we reach every year to the 90,000 Maryland schoolchildren who visit for free, what we do has an impact on Maryland residents and communities.”
To see the Maryland Science Center Schedule of Events, click this link.
