WonderLab

The WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology is a science museum located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana, United States. It was incorporated in 1995 as a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. WonderLab is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers.

The WonderLab Bearded Dragon
WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology
Established1995
LocationBloomington, Indiana
TypeScience Museum
Visitors80,000
WebsiteOfficial website

History

WonderLab began operation as a traveling outreach program run by a group of volunteers.[1] In 1998, WonderLab opened a small, interim museum on the north side of the Bloomington courthouse square.[2][3] At the same time, a capital campaign was launched to build a permanent museum on a downtown lot donated by the city of Bloomington.[1] The current 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) museum opened to the public on March 29, 2003.[4] Currently, WonderLab is in the heart of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) and is a visitor attraction on the B-Line Trail.[5]

Inside the Museum

WonderLab is an accessible facility with two floors of hands-on science exhibits. Several exhibits are permamant, while others are rotated off and on throughout the year. Some of the highlights are listed below:

First Floor

A popular exhibit on the first floor is the Grapevine Climber, which allows visitors to climb up giant leaves to view the museum from a different perspective. The Bubble-Airium offers multiple exhibits that showcase unexpected ways of forming and using bubbles. The Lego Water Table allows children to dam and divert water flowing down a large lego sheet. The first floor is also home to the Discovery Garden, an enclosed area with age-appropriate science activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

Second Floor

The second floor is home to many of the live animal exhibits at WonderLab, as well as exhibits about southern Indiana’s geologic past as interpreted through fossils. In addition, the floor features exhibits relating to health, the human body and the science of sound.

Lester P. Bushnell WonderGarden

WonderLab’s WonderGarden is a small nature area set between the museum building and the B-Line Trail. The garden includes a selection of outdoor science exhibits and an amphitheater for science programs. Museum visitors may check out nature packs at the welcome desk to use for exploring the science of the garden in different seasons.

Other Educational Activities

WonderLab presents science programs for all ages, conducts a summer science camp, is a partner in the MCCSC after-school enrichment program, provides outreach services, and offers professional development workshops for teachers. In addition, the museum provides work experiences for Indiana University college students, summer internships for high school students, and a variety of volunteer opportunities for hundreds of teens and adults.[6]

Selected awards
  • Certified Wildlife Habitat (WonderGarden) — certified by the National Wildlife Federation in 2009
  • Best Place to Volunteer — awarded by the Indiana Daily Student in 2009
  • Top 25 Hands-On Science Center in the United States — ranked #17 by Parents (September 2008 issue)[7]
  • Community Enhancement Award — awarded by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in 2003
  • Attraction of the Year — awarded by the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2003

References
  1. "WonderLab Handbook for Volunteers" (PDF). Wonderlab.org. February 15, 2018.
  2. "WonderLab opening Saturday". The Herald-Times. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  3. "Hundreds jam WonderLab\'s temporary home at opening". The Herald-Times. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  4. "Sam Perkins, Wonderlab Museum Grand Opening Photo". The Herald-Times. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  5. "B-Line Trail | City of Bloomington, Indiana". bloomington.in.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  6. Bowersox, Nick (2008-09-25). "Wonder Lab's volunteers work many hours, essential to success". Indiana Daily Student. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  7. Brookes, Nicole (2008-08-22). "WonderLab gets national recognition". The Herald-Times. Retrieved 2010-04-18.

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