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The museum and its
Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and 550 sq ft (51 m) tree house blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) campus abutting 180 acres (73 ha) of conservation land in
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The museum has twice the exhibit space of the original museum and includes significant galleries for STEAM experiences including water; air; tinkering, design, and engineering; early brain development; math; light and color; and sound. It also includes re-imagined visitor favorites from the original
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The Museum's Open Door
Connections program provides opportunities for those who face a variety of barriers—financial, developmental, or cultural—to experience the museum. In 2018, 22% of the total served visited for free or nearly free. The Museum provides dedicated free services for families with
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designed by E. Verner
Johnson & Associates. It had 8,200 sq ft (760 m) of floor space. It is this structure that was completely renovated and expanded in 2018; the original Children's Discovery Museum building remains on campus but is used for office space and is closed to the
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The original
Children's Discovery Museum was founded in 1982 by Donald B. Verger, a math teacher and naturalist. The Science Discovery Museum was added to the campus in 1988. An additional parcel that increased the campus size by half was purchased and a new master plan was commissioned in 2008.
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and all exhibits are accessible, designed according to
Universal Design principles to be both aesthetically pleasing and usable by the widest possible range of people, without regards to age or ability. In combination with the museum’s Discovery Woods outdoor nature playscape and treehouse, the
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buildings including a Diner, Train Room, and Ship Room, along with other beloved exhibit components such as a giant amethyst and radar magnet. All exhibits are hands-on, low-tech, open-ended, and interactive, to encourage play, exploration, and experimentation by all.
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Water Table, Bessie's Play Diner, Air Play, Backyard at Night, Sensations, S.S. Discover, the Chain
Reaction Room, the Adventure fort, and the Train Room. Former exhibits include the Rainbow Room, Safari Room, Dinosaur Room, and Grandma's Attic.
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The original
Children's Discovery Museum was housed in a 3-story Victorian house, built in 1880, that had 3,500 sq ft (330 m) of floor space in ten rooms. The former Science Discovery Museum was housed in a purpose-built
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children on the autism spectrum and with vision or hearing loss; free admission to all on select Friday nights, and any time to military families; and $ 1 admission to EBT card holders and up to five guests.
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The former
Science Discovery Museum permanent exhibits included Earth Science, Inventor's Workshop, Rubber Ball Music Wall, and Sea of Clouds.
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Surely the architectural style known as Post-Modernism has never been used to better effect than at the new
Science Discovery Museum in Acton.
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The
Discovery Museums in Acton commissioned Solomon to build a permanent exhibit in 1998. He came up with the Rubber Ball Music Wall...
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The Children's Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton, is right on track with its new Train Room...
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Burns, Nancy V. (2004-01-15). "Inventor's gadgets bring stirring music to students' ears".
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Museums for America grant, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 2011, 2013-15, 2017
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Massachusetts Commonwealth Award (Access Category), Massachusetts Cultural Council, 2017
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is a hands-on museum for families that blends science, nature, and play, located in
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were added to the campus in July 2016. The museum was originally founded in 1982.
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Campbell, Robert (1988-08-09). "Post-Modernism put to excellent use in Acton".
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John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts LEAD Community Asset Award, 2018
577:"The Discovery Museums appoint Acton, Lincoln residents to board of directors"
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Anderson, Leslie (2002-09-19). "Discovery Museums mark 20 years of learning".
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Best Museum, Gold or Silver, Wicked Local Reader’s Choice Awards, 2010-2018
605:"Discovery Museum Welcomes Four New Board Members | Discovery Museum"
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How does air work? A bigger Discovery Museum finds the wonder in science
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Boston magazine’s Best of Boston 2018, Best Family-Friendly Museum, West
591:"Discovery Museums Welcome New Board Members | Discovery Museum"
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Heaney, Sally (2004-09-16). "New exhibition at Discovery Museum".
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Weld, Elizabeth New (1989-04-09). "Discovering science hands-on".
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New England Museum Association (NEMA) Excellence Award, 2015, 2018
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The former Children's Discovery Museum exhibits included the
563:"The Discovery Museums Appoint Four New Board Members"
492:"It's full steam ahead at Acton's Discovery Museum".
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Discovery Woods opens at Discovery Museums in Acton
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247:Original buildings (now closed)
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285:Current and Former Directors
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455:Cook, Joan (1987-11-22).
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387:"25 years of Discovery"
91:42.4647944; -71.4561611
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340:References
175:Great Hill
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51:Route 27
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
