Our Past
In 1955, Orlando Science Center started its life as the Central Florida Museum, and looked much different from the institution it is today. Over the last 63 years, the Science Center has grown from a “museum on the move” that toured content to schools and other learning sites to the premier informal learning institution we are today.
Our Present
Recognizing not only the need to revitalize our physical exhibits, our leadership also recognized the growing importance and place that the Science Center occupied in the educational landscape of Central Florida. In order to both address our needed physical updates and the need for high-quality informal education, OSC began the Unlock Science Campaign. To date, our comprehensive campaign has made many critical improvements at the Science Center a possibility:
- In 2015, OSC finished renovating the lobby and science store, while also reclaiming space for our new KidsTown exhibit by performing an in-fill on the second floor.
- In 2016, construction for new KidsTown completed in October, which helped increase attendance by 10% from the prior year with a 5-year attendance growth of 66%.
- In 2017, construction started on the STEM Discovery Center, which entailed renovating our 7 learning labs within the Education department. By the end of the year, 4 of the learning labs were being regularly used for programming, classes, and winter break camps.
- In 2018, we finished the learning lab renovations, while also debuting the new Flight Lab, made possible by a generous grant from the Office of Naval Research. The first half of 2018 also saw the completion of our new making and tinkering exhibit, The Hive: A Makerspace.
With the completion of so many exciting projects associated with the campaign, the end of FY18 brought us to another record-breaking year for attendance with over 670,000 visitors reached by OSC.
Additionally, based on these accomplishments the Science Center has been honored as an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal finalist for two consecutive years. This honor is only bestowed upon 15 museums each year, and represents the highest award for a museum or library in the nation.
Our Future
With the successful completion of Phase I and II of the Unlock Science Campaign, and as we look to the future, we will continue to innovate content and reclaim space with the focus on Nature and Environment, Health and Wellness, and by updating the CineDome to provide an immersive Fulldome Digital experience.
In Phase III, the current phase of the campaign, OSC is keeping an eye on the future from an organizational standpoint and from a conservation perspective by fundraising for Life, Phase III, in new nature and environment exhibit hall. In this space we will continue to inspire science learning for life by:
- Connecting visitors to real-world environmental problems that impact their daily lives.
- Empowering learners of all ages to see how they can impact the world through conservation efforts both big and small.
- Facilitate stronger connections between our community and the natural world by offering hands-on environmental education opportunities to our visitors.
A. Friends' Foundation
AdventHealth for Children
Amy and Chris Chapman
Anonymous Donors
BDO USA, LLP
Bert W. Martin Foundation
Betsy and Shelton Granade
Brandan Lanman
Capt. Steve Nakagawa
Carmen Burkhammer and Scott Wilson
Caryn and Robert Winter
Catriona and Mike Harris
Chesley G. Magruder Foundation, Inc.
Cindy and Bruce Anderson
City of Orlando
David and Bridgette Baten
David Christensen
Demetria and Jeffrey Sloan
Dennis Nolte
Kingsley and Devin Elmore
Digital Assurance Certification, LLC
DiPasqua Enterprises Inc.
Dottie and Bill Silverman
Dr. Phillips Charities
Dr. Sarah Layton
Duke Energy Foundation
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation
Embrace Families
Esther McKean
Event Network
Faith and Jeff Buhler
FINFROCK
Florida Blue Foundation
Florida Division of Arts and Culture
Gary and Brandee Heath
Harriett Lake Family Trust
Heather and Samual Miller
Helaine and Richard Signer
James M. Cox Foundation
JoAnn and Rich Newman
Karen and Darrell Lane
Karen and Dennis Lind
Linda Avery and Janet Edwards in honor of Marian and Bill Lacy
Linda Cadogan and Chuck Beverly
Lindsay Winter
Lisa and Michel Champagne
Lorraine and Jerry Sullivan
Marc and Jennifer Swanson
Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
Marilyn Moran and Michael Weaver
Massey Services, Inc.
Matthew Levine
Mila Smith
Monica and John Rivers
Office Of Naval Research
Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs
Orange County Government
Orlando Health
Orlando Utilities Commission
Paula Stuart
PNC Bank
Publix Super Markets Charities
Rita and Tim Flaherty
Seay Business Solutions, LLC
Shannon and Min Cho
Sharon and Marc Hagle
Sheila and Patrick Aland
Simoli and Nirav Pandya
State of Florida
Stewart and Kelly Clark
Sue and James Cross
Suneera and Faizal Madhani
Suzanne Worthington and Scott Grabowski
The Art and Phyllis Grindle Foundation
The Hearst Foundation
The Isaacs Family
The Joe & Sarah Galloway Foundation
The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation
Tupperware Brands Corporation
Virginia and Robert Finfrock
W.T. Bland Jr. Charitable Trust
Walt Disney Company Foundation
William H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation
William J. Slot, Jr.
Ying Family Foundation