Facility:

• Opened November 5, 1995 in the historic, iconic 1929 City Light and Power building
• Original renovations and exhibits cost $9 million
• 70,000 square foot building
• 35,000-square feet of exhibit space, temporary exhibition area, two classrooms, a video learning space, demonstration theater, gift shop, exhibits repair shop and offices
• Completed a $1.6M Science On a Sphere capital project in 2013, the first expansion since opening
• Installing a $3.2M Planetarium capital project
• Replaced most original exhibits during 2018-2023

Budget:

• Nearly $2.2M annually
• About 44% of the operating budget came from earned revenue and 56% from fundraising
• Debt-free since 2012
• Net Assets of $7.5M
• 2 endowment funds, managed and self-managed
• Receive no annual government funds for general operations, unlike other U.S. science centers

Visitors:

• Over 3 million people, including on-site and outreach visitation, have been served since 1995
• Annual measurable impact of 135,000 people
• Visitors came from 46 States in the past year
• 49% of general public visitors were from outside Fort Wayne and 44% were from outside Allen County
• Served 31 counties around the Tri-State region with school outreaches and study trips
• Almost 860,000 people have been served through outreach programs since opening
• Approximately 2,400 Memberships

Distinctions:

• The only science center in the region, and the most-visited Fort Wayne museum
• Indiana’s first museum-based NOAA’s Science On a Sphere exhibit
• Will open the region’s only public planetarium, with both starball and digital projection systems
• Voted 4th Best Indiana Museum in 2018 and Top 20 Museum in 2020 by the Indiana Department of Tourism, and 4th Best Indiana Science Museum by Tripadvisor in 2023
• 4-time national award winner for interactive virtual learning
• Partnerships with museums, universities, schools, media, libraries and government agencies
• Staff serve on STEM-related boards, committees and community groups

Programs:

• Student study trips, demonstrations, labs, outreach, birthday parties, camps, workshops, scout programs, overnights, adult programs, early learners, themed festivals, homeschool activities
• Specialized training workshops for nearly 8,500 pre-service and in-service teachers since opening
• All school programs correlate to Indiana’s State Standards for Science
• Featured in weekly radio and television segments
• Educational interactive video programs nationally and internationally
• Host Disabilities Days
• Host numerous free or reduced admission days
• Provide nearly 500 charitable free passes a year

Economic Impact:

• Premier cultural institution that improves the local quality of life, attracts and retains new businesses and residents, and contributes to the educational development of the region’s future employees
• Out-of-town visitors annually contribute approximately $1 million to the local economy
• Provides jobs to approximately 60 people
• Approximately 200 volunteers