California Science Center, Science museum in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, United States.
The California Science Center is a science museum in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, that brings together themed galleries on space travel, ecosystems, and human health. The exhibition spaces spread across several connected buildings that display aircraft, spacecraft, and natural science installations.
The institution began in 1912 as the California State Exhibition building, showing the state's agricultural, mining and industrial products. In 1951 it became the California Museum of Science and Industry, with hands-on exhibits on agriculture, transportation, electricity, energy, industries and minerals. A 1961 science wing brought the Eameses' Mathematica exhibit, and the Hall of Health followed in 1968. Renamed the California Science Center in 1998 after a remodel, it received Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2012.
The museum takes its name from the state and displays the shuttle in a large hall that visitors can walk around from all sides. Families regularly use the interactive stations to explore topics in physics and biology through hands-on activities.
Permanent exhibitions are free to enter, while special exhibits and film screenings require separate tickets. The center sits in Exposition Park and combines well with other cultural facilities in the neighborhood.
The shuttle pavilion has no air conditioning, so visitors experience the interior at outdoor temperatures. A new gallery is under construction and will display additional aircraft in vertical arrangements that recreate their original launch positions.
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