Eureka! (museum)
| Eureka! The National Children's Museum | |
|---|---|
 The entrance to Eureka! |
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| Established | 15 September 1983 |
| Location | 53°43′12″N 1°51′18″W / 53.72°N 1.855°WCoordinates: 53°43′12″N 1°51′18″W / 53.72°N 1.855°W |
| Type | Children's Museum |
| Director | Leigh-Anne Stradeski |
| Website | www.eureka.org.uk |
Eureka! The National Children's Museum is an interactive educational museum for children in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, with a focus on learning through play. It is run as an educational charity and not-for-profit organisation. Eureka! is based on the North American model of children’s museums, aimed at families with children age 0-11 and encourages lots of parental involvement.
Eureka! celebrates its 20th birthday in 2012 by launching Play 20 - an online resource providing play ideas and campaign to get parents, carers and their children playing together.
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[edit] History
The museum was partly inspired by Prince Charles, who opened the museum on 9 July 1992 and has subsequently become its Patron.[1] It is located on former British Rail land next to Halifax railway station.
It was designed by Eric McMillan, a Canadian designer of several children's attractions in North America.[2]
[edit] Galleries
The museum has four main galleries:
- Me and My Body - for children to learn about themselves and how their bodies work, with the help of Scoot the Robot. The Me and My Body Gallery will close in November 2012 for a £3 Million redevelopment, re-opening in February 2013.
- Living and Working Together - A miniature town square (including a bank, fountain, garage and shops) and house.
- Our Global Garden - showcasing gardens from around the world: Town, Jungle, Ice, Ocean, Country.
- SoundSpace - An interactive gallery encouraging children to discover the science of sound and music, with the help of Orby the Alien.
The museum also has two galleries aimed at the under-fives:
- SoundGarden
- Desert Discovery
The grounds of Eureka! include:
- The Beach - possibly the biggest outdoor sandpit in the North of England.
- The Wonder Walk - An outdoor sensory trail.
[edit] Projects
- Helping Hands - A three year project, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, working to make Eureka! fully accessible to families with disabled children.
- Mission: Active Future - An interactive travelling exhibition designed to help children switch on to a healthier lifestyle.
[edit] References
- ^ "Eureka! History". Eureka!. http://www.eureka.org.uk/AboutUs/history.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ "Eric McMillan Designer". Eric McMillan. http://www.ericmcmillandesigner.com/Eric_McMillan,_Designer/Dreams_For_Northern_England.html. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
[edit] External links
- Eureka! website
- Play 20 website
- Eureka! Official Facebook Page
- Eureka! on Twitter
- The 10 Best Hands-on Museums - The Independent, 10 November 2011
- Eureka! blog
- Eureka! Experts blog
- American Association of Children's Museums
- Eureka! on the Charity Commission website
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