Conflicting messages about this year’s pandemic continue to put an end to our nerves. But there are flashes of a return, albeit cautious, to an appearance of general recreational life.
One step forward for families to laugh is the reopening of the Little Rock Discovery Museum, with covid-19 security measures, after several months of closure.
In early 2020, this action-packed charm ranked USA Today readers as the sixth most productive children’s museum in the country. It also holds a pedigree of Mensa, the world’s largest organization for others with a very high IQ, whose members ranked Little Rock sixth among all American science museums, some of them much larger. In the most sensible list of the 10 most sensible, the Smithsonian Institution’s celebrated National Air and Space Museum in Washington. At number 3 in Chicago’s vast museum of science and industry.
Mensa’s embrace doesn’t mean young people or parents want to be wise with the Museum of Discovery, which joined other Little Rock museums when it reopened.
The Arkansas Historical Museum, the Old State Capitol, the MacArthur Museum of Military History of Arkansas, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, the Esse Purse Museum and the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center are coming back. The Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer Village – Urban Farm are still closed at the time of publication.
What it takes to enjoy the Museum of Discovery is basically a touch of practical curiosity, as well as a spoonful of adventurous spirit. An exhibition highlights that it is the oldest existing museum in Little Rock, founded in 1927 through the prominent Julia Burnell (Bernie) Smade Babcock. First located on Main Street, it was originally called the Museum of Natural History and Antiquities.
In 1929, Babcock donated the nonprofit museum to the city of Little Rock. He was transferred to City Hall, but had to close the Great Depression in 1935.
Reopened in 1942, it moved more than a century to the Tower Building in MacArthur Park before moving to the existing River Market in 1998 under the new name Museum of Discovery.
There is a clear lack of enthusiasm for the exhibitions until the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation provided a $9.2 million grant for primary expansion and renovations. When the largest museum reopened in January 2012, almost all of the 90 new exhibits were practical.
A sign in the lobby indicates the museum’s mission: “I’m invigorate in science, technology, engineering, the arts and in a dynamic and interactive environment.”
A flyer that is held near the place of work of the price ticket promises the option of lying in a bed of nails, without pain. Other touted interactions include “building a windmill,” “increasing your pace,” “pumping air into your lungs,” “making smoke rings,” “testing your reaction time,” “building an earthquake-resistant building” and “measuring your intestines.” This last delight is far from as macabre as it seems.
The museum’s two are divided into several permanent galleries. The latest is Room to Grow, designed for children 6 years and younger.
Discovery Hall focuses on mathematical concepts of patterns, shapes, spaces, and quantities. Amazing You look at the human bodies to show how we work. Earth Journeys focuses on herbal occasions that distinguish Arkansas. Tinkering Studio and Tesla Coil Theatre are lately closed as a precautionary measure in the event of a pandemic.
But the numerous practical activities put in place offer more action than maximum visitors of any age can offer in a singles stay.
The Museum of Discovery
Address: 500 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock
Hours: nine a.m. to five p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, 3:3 a.m. to 5pm Sunday
Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for young people aged 1 to 12, as well as 60 and more, active or retired military staff and teachers.
Information: museumofdiscovery.org or (501) 396-7050.