Palestine, Texas- Palestine will soon be home to an innovative pop-up museum filled with exhibits that explore science, technology, engineering, the arts and math in a hands-on environment. Based on the world-famous Exploratorium in San Francisco, CA, it is the brain child of the ICEE Success Foundation and the STEAMRollers. The exhibit will promote creative and innovation thinking skills that are important for all ages. It is called a pop-up museum because, for the time being, it will be opened for a certain time period.
The exhibit will be called Curious: Igniting Imagination. It will offer exciting hands-on and interactive exhibits designed for individuals and families, for anyone who has ever been curious. It will engage preschoolers through adults in a fun, engaging and, ultimately, educational format.
“ICEE Success is collaborating with area school districts to create an exhibit that is beneficial to their students’ needs,” said ICEE Success Foundation Executive Director Lucinda Presley. “We are very excited to offer this special opportunity to the East Texas region based on our collaboration with the internationally-famous Exploratorium in San Francisco.”
The exhibit will be open at 201 W. Oak, in downtown Palestine, Fridays through Sundays October 10, 2015, through January 3, 2016 (closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.) It will also be available Mondays through Thursdays for group visits and school field trips by appointment.
“We have been amazed by the outpouring of support! We’ve had a large number of enthusiastic volunteers come forward,” Ms. Presley said. “Our volunteers are wonderful! They come from a cross-section of the community and offer us a wealth of expertise and passion for the project.”
Organizers looked long and hard for a location, one that would feature the true spirit of Palestine, have the space needed for all the exhibits and still garner the foot traffic needed. Enter Frank Hendrix. Mr. Hendrix is a local property owner who just happened to have the perfect space. 201 W. Oak has been many things in its long life, including the original JCPenny store, K. Woolens Department Store, Oak Street Village Antiques and, most recently, a location for Main Street’s Santa’s Magical Workshop. Ms. Presley ICEE Success Foundation (903) 530-9019 Page 2 of 2 said, “ICEE and all of our volunteers are very grateful to Mr. Hendrix for allowing us to use the building. Without his generosity, we would not have an exhibit home.”
ICEE Success Foundation, the exhibit organizer, is a local non-profit that supports area school districts’ efforts to encourage children’s interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). It also brought to the area the popular Philip Beesley Living Architecture exhibit last year. Curious: Igniting Imagination is building on the impressive success of the Philip Beesley Living Architecture exhibit installed at the Palestine Mall November 2014 through January 2015.
STEAMRollers, another local organization, promotes ICEE’s goal of bringing engaging opportunities for innovation thinking in STEM to area students and adults. ICEE and STEAMRollers are addressing the growing demand for innovation thinking in the workforce. Because of this demand, there is a greater need for opportunities that expand thinking abilities in students and adults. For Palestine, the U.S. and Texas to prosper, researchers say, it is vital to grow local and regional innovation-thinking talent in the schools, the workforce and the general population.
Ms. Presley concluded with one of her favorite quotes by Albert Einstein: “I have not special talents. I am only passionately curious,” she added, “And that has been our guiding principal: to grow and foster curiosity in those who will come into the exhibit.
To support Palestine. To grow our leaders of tomorrow. To contribute to a better, fuller life.” Organizers are still seeking donations and volunteers. For more information email the Curious Exhibit organizers at [email protected].