History:

The Tampa Bay area took a remarkable step forward in 1959 to meet and expand an interest in science. Forward thinking community members, including co-founders William Guild and Nell Rodgers Croley, founded The Science Center, the first science education facility of its type in the United States! This non-profit and privately owned facility is a 501(c)(3) organization funded through private donations, grants, corporate gifts and donations from people like you and me! (Read information on how to Help the Science Center)

The Center is located on seven acres in west St. Petersburg. Each year the Center educates more than 25,000 school children through field trip classes; offers winter, spring and summer workshops for 2,000 more; takes science education courses to the community, holds science showcases and science fair workshops, offers a Lecture Series with world renowned speakers and holds many science oriented events and activities for the community.

Landmark Highlight Dates:

1959- The Science Center is founded.
1961- Cooperative Classroom Extension Program (CEP) begins with the school system.
1966- Completion of present main building.
1971- The Discovery Center is built. This building houses our planetarium.
1995- Mobile Outreach expands to include adults and "at risk" children.
1996- Discoveries by "African-American Scientists and Inventors" opens.
1997- The Carol Samuels Observatory opened.
1999- Two grand openings. The xeriscaped Gardens and the replica 16th Century Indian Village.
2000- Animal Life Room renovated and Margaret Ewell Dickins Marine Room opens.
2003- The Spirit of Columbia Planetarium opened.
2004- Computer lab with 25 new computers donated by Tech Data.
2006- Dedication of the Environmental Learning Exhibit (wetlands, nature trail and White Gardens).
2009 - Introduction of STEM programming (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
2010- Joined the SENDS Consortium
9/9/2010 - Historical Live Downlink with the International Space Station (Astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Shannon Walker, Doug Wheelock)
2010 - Introduced the Nation's First Cyber Security Education and Certification Program for High School Students
2011 - Introduction to Design and Manufacturing Engineering Summer Workshop
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