From Asheville Museum of Science
Press release
The Colburn Earth Science Museum, soon to be renamed The Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS), is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA). The funding will enable the museum to move forward with its Moving Science into the Spotlight campaign to move to an expanded space in downtown Asheville’s Wells Fargo building.
“We’re extremely excited to receive the full funding we requested from the TDA,” said Jon Neumann, museum board president. “Not only will it allow us to fast-track our expansion plans, it also shines a spotlight on AMOS as we look for additional financial partners for our campaign.”
Currently located downstairs in Pack Place, the museum’s new home will not only offer a larger space with street-level visibility, but also the opportunity to fully expand its mission to become a general science museum.
“Changing our name, from The Colburn Earth Science Museum to The Asheville Museum of Science, reflects our vision of becoming a full science museum,” said Anna Saylor, the museum’s interim executive director. “We’re thrilled that the TDA has supported that vision by awarding us this grant. We look forward to helping educate even more kids and to becoming a downtown destination for Western North Carolina children and families as well as tourists.”
The Colburn Museum has undergone many changes since its founding in 1960 as the Burnham S. Colburn Memorial Museum. From a gem and mineral museum to an earth science museum, it continues to broaden its mission to house interactive science-related exhibits, special events and educational programs for both adults and children. This will be the third move for the museum since its original location on Coxe Avenue.
The Asheville Museum of Science will create its new vision of a full science museum by utilizing the 8,000 square foot Wells Fargo space. Passersby will be exposed to science exhibits and the gift shop via the street-level museum window on Patton Avenue. This includes Magic Planets, a large-scale, digital video globe powered by the Elumenati. Magic Planets displays a huge library of exhibits, animations, videos and images created by NOAA, NASA, and other leading museums and science centers. Schools, kids and families throughout western North Carolina will enjoy the broader cutting- edge programming covering a wide range scientific inquiry and STEM-based curriculum. The new location will also have a larger exhibit area and classroom space.
The Colburn will host a Spotlight Campaign Kick-off event, Friday, November 20th at the Pack Place location starting at 6pm and offering tours to the new location. For more information contact Anna Priest info@colburnmuseum.org 828-254-7162.
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