DSP to Close Temporarily

September 12, 2016

UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

Discovery Science Place to Close Temporarily for Updates and Renovations

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September 12, 2016

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

Editor's Note: This press release is presented on behalf of the Discovery Science Place. Please direct all questions to Chris Rasure, executive director. Thank you.

On Monday, Sept. 19, the Discovery Science Place will close for three weeks to complete capital renovations and bring in new exhibits, Chris Rasure, executive director, announced.

The Discovery Science Place will re-open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Special science presentations are planned throughout the day in the theater.

Renovations are part of the museum's 2016 "Raise the Roof" capital project. Earlier in 2016, reconstruction of the roof on the museum's 110-year-old building was completed. During the closing, further renovations will include new flooring in all main galleries, updated lighting and interior paint in all main areas.

In the Hometown Gallery, Imagination Playground will be installed as a new permanent exhibit. With a collection of custom-designed, oversized blue foam parts, Imagination Playground provides a changing array of elements that allow children to turn their playground into a space constantly built and re-built by their imagination. This new exhibit is the result of a grant awarded to Discovery Science Place from Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and national nonprofit KaBOOM!

Also new to Hometown Gallery will be an interactive model train exhibit. Four different model trains pull passenger and boxcars through a display of mountains, streams, buildings and more. The exhibit includes constant movement, scale scenery and push-button features for families to enjoy. This display is provided by the ARC of Smith County, Billy Hibbs Jr. and the "Lucky Den 13" cub scouts.

Several other exciting exhibit updates and renovations are planned during the closing. For more information, contact Whitney Patterson, development director, at 903.533.8011 or whitney@discoveryscienceplace.org. Information can also be found at www.discoveryscienceplace.org.

The Discovery Science Place is a children's museum located in Tyler, Texas that strives to inspire interest and education in STEM learning through hands-on, interactive exhibits for children of all ages. Through its partnerships with The University of Texas at Tyler, donors and local businesses, the Discovery Science Place offers an educational atmosphere where families are encouraged to create, invent and explore. The museum consists of three exhibit halls that house both signature exhibits that are permanently stationed at the museum, as well as those that rotate through for special exhibitions.

Discovery Science Place is a proud partner of The University of Texas at Tyler. One of the 14 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.