Grand Opening of New Exhibit Floor at the Museum of the Great Plains

Additional Information

For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
John Hernandez, Director
580.581.3460
Museum of the Great Plains

Upper Floor Explore, the Museum of the Great Plains’ newest permanent exhibit, will officially debut on Sunday, September 8.

An innovative community space for all ages, the activity area reflects the growing Do-It-Yourself (DIY), Tinkering, and Maker movements, which embrace open-ended experimentation and discovery. “It’s a place for everyone—individuals, families, professionals, amateurs, hobbyists—anyone who wants to explore and express their own creativity and interests,” says Jana Brown, Curator of Education. Filled with a wide variety of supplies and tools, the curiosity-driven installation is an exciting resource for investigating a wide range of phenomena, from aerodynamics to art. The warm collaborative environment gives visitors the freedom to take risks, to make mistakes, and to engage in hands-on problem solving in unique and unconventional ways.

The museum's director, John Hernandez, feels this type of installation has a valuable role to play in the community. “Oklahomans have a strong sense of family. And families increasingly need to provide children with the skills required to succeed in a global economy. To be competitive, children must to be able to think in new and different ways. We designed Upper Floor Explore, with the support of the Oklahoma Museum Network and the Donald W Reynolds Foundation, to provide a place for families to come together, and to develop and hone critical thinking skills.”

To celebrate the grand opening of Upper Floor Explore, the museum will offer free admission on Sunday, September 8, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Museum of the Great Plains at (580) 581-3460.

About the OKLAHOMA MUSEUM NETWORK

The Oklahoma Museum Network, funded by the DONALD W REYNOLDSFOUNDATION, is a statewide collaboration of five partner museums working together to provide hands-on discovery learning and science resources to families, students, and educators across the state. Network members include the MUSEUM OF THE GREAT PLAINS, Lawton; SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA, Oklahoma City; JASMINE MORAN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, Seminole; LEONARDO’S CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, Enid; and the TULSA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM.

About the DONALD W REYNOLDS FOUNDATION

The Donald W Reynolds Foundation, established in 1954, is a national philanthropic organization headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The
foundation's “Children's Discovery Initiative” funds museum-based activities in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

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