Ever wondered what it’s like to lie on a bed of nails? At Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry, or MOSI as we call it, you can. This is no ordinary museum. It’s a scientific playground.
MOSI is Tampa Bay’s intersection of science and innovation. It has more than 100 hands-on activities. MOSI first began in 1962. Hillsborough County approved funding for a youth museum in Sulphur Springs. It was named the Museum of Science and Natural History. It provided exhibits to children and adults.
The museum changed its name to the Hillsborough County Museum in 1967. In 1976 construction began on a new museum in North Tampa. It became the Museum of Science & Industry. The museum opened to the public on January 23, 1982.
In 1995, MOSI expanded. A 190000 square foot science center was built. It included Florida’s only IMAX Dome Theatre. There were extensive exhibition galleries. A planetarium and a public library were added.
MOSI was the largest science center in the southeast. It was the 5th largest in the U.S. Renovations were done in 1996, 2001, and 2005.
Inside MOSI you can build a robot. Explore optical illusions. Challenge yourself with brain puzzles. You can explore another world in the NASA-funded Mission: Moonbase. This exhibit simulates a lunar base in 2070. It is near the Moon’s south pole.
You can also touch the future in Connectus. Learn about planets in the Saunders Planetarium. The Saunders Planetarium was established in 1992. It is the only planetarium in Tampa. Nearly 700000 people have seen its shows.
MOSI’s exhibits encourage you to ask questions. They show you how cool curiosity can be. They spark conversations about the world.
MOSI is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open on all holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Guest parking is free. There are dining options. You can dig into barbecue at Station House BBQ. Or stop by MOSI Marketplace for refreshments.
Before you leave, consider the impact of MOSI. It’s a place where science comes alive. It inspires the next generation of innovators. MOSI is more than a museum. It’s a place where curiosity takes flight.