Science Museum Oklahoma

The Science Museum Oklahoma is an awesome place. My girls use to go there on overnight "camp outs" when they were young and in Girl Scouts. Way back then....it was called the Omniplex. Now it is the place my grandchildren love to visit. As you can see by the photo above they have lots of fun there and learn stuff too. I would recommend anyone traveling through Oklahoma this summer to check out the Science Museum Oklahoma. I have included location information at the end of this post. You can go to their website and find out information about current exhibits and activities.

HISTORY

Science Museum Oklahoma History at a Glance

1958: The Kirkpatrick Planetarium was created with a donation from the Junior League of Oklahoma City.

1962: The John E. Kirkpatrick family provided a permanent dome structure for the popular planetarium at the State Fairgrounds.

1962: Science Museum Oklahoma was founded as the Oklahoma Science and Arts Foundation on the fairgrounds.

1978: The Kirkpatrick Center museum complex opened at 2100 NE 52nd Street in Oklahoma City. The foundation, after changing its name to Omniplex Science Museum, became the building's first tenant. Kirkpatrick Planetarium reopened in the center a few months later.

1980: The Oklahoma Air and Space Museum (now part of Science Museum Oklahoma) becomes a new addition in Kirkpatrick Center.

1985: John Kirkpatrick envisions?an outdoor sanctuary and gardeners' learning center and opens the Kirkpatrick Gardens and Greenhouse, adjacent to the south side of the building.

1996: Kirkpatrick Center, the Oklahoma Air and Space Museum and Science Museum Oklahoma merge to create a new organizations - Kirkpatrick Science and Air Space Museum at Omniplex.

1998: Science Museum Oklahoma begins construction on the Dome Theater, the state's first large-format, dome-screen theater.

2000: Science Museum Oklahoma makes Oklahoma history by opening the first large-format, dome-screen theater to sell-out audiences.

2003 Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit sets museum attendance records, with over 217,000 visitors to the exhibit during its seven-month run. science museum of national prominence.

Founder: John Elson Kirkpatrick 1908 - 2006

Admiral John Kirkpatrick was born in Oklahoma City in February 1908 and graduated from the Oklahoma City Public Schools before attending West Point, Marion Institute and, in 1931, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1932, Kirkpatrick married Eleanor Blake of Mangum. During World War II, Kirkpatrick served 54 months at sea as a gunnery officer aboard the USS North Carolina and later served on the USS Alaska and the USS Oklahoma City. After the war, Kirkpatrick entered the oil business and in 1950 founded the Kirkpatrick Oil Company.

Prominent civic leaders in Oklahoma City since the 1940s, the Kirkpatricks have given much to the communities and state of Oklahoma through their generosity and philanthropy, including multiple arts and education organizations. Their works are continued today through the Kirkpatrick Foundation.

Science Museum Oklahoma was made possible largely through the support and generosity of the Kirkpatrick family.

MAP AND DIRECTIONS Science Museum Oklahoma is a perfect choice

for groups of any size with packages that fit your schedule.

Science Museum Oklahoma is located in the heart of Oklahoma City's Adventure

District at: 2100 NE 52nd Street, Oklahoma City, OK

DRIVING DIRECTIONS From Northeast OKC: I-35S, exit NE 50th, west on 50th

From Northwest OKC: I-44E, exit Martin Luther King, south to NE 50th From West OKC: I-40E, exit I-35N, I-35N to NE 50th, west on 50th From East OKC: I-40W, exit I-35N, north to NE 50th, west on 50th From South OKC: I-35N, exit I-40E, exit I-35N, north to NE 50th, west on 50th