California Museum of Science and Industry

California Museum of Science and Industry. It was a major public science museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, operating from 1951 until its transformation in 1998. Founded by the State of California, the institution was dedicated to interactive exhibits on technology, industry, and basic science. It served as a precursor to the modern California Science Center, which now occupies its former site and expanded mission.

History

The museum's origins trace to a 1947 initiative by the California State Legislature to create an educational institution focused on the state's economic drivers. It opened in 1951 within the former State Exposition Building in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, a cultural complex that also houses the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Early leadership, including director E. Lee Oertel, emphasized hands-on learning, a novel concept for the era. The museum expanded physically in 1961 with the addition of the Museum of Science and Industry Building, designed by the firm William L. Pereira & Associates. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, it became a landmark for school field trips and family visits, directly funded by the State of California until governance changes in the 1990s.

Exhibits and facilities

The museum featured numerous permanent and traveling exhibits designed for interactivity. Key halls included the **Technology Hall**, which showcased advancements in aerospace and computing, often featuring artifacts from NASA and corporations like Lockheed Corporation. The **Hall of Health** utilized innovative displays to explain human biology, while the **Mathematica: A World of Numbers... and Beyond** exhibit, created by Charles and Ray Eames, became a signature installation. Other notable spaces were the **Agriculture Wing**, highlighting California's farming industry, and the **Kinetic Theater**, which presented live science demonstrations. The museum also operated the **IMAX Theater** in the **Museum of Science and Industry Building**, one of the first in the world to use the large-format film system.

Transformation into the California Science Center

Planning for a major reinvention began in the late 1980s, driven by the need for modernization and expanded facilities. The California State Legislature passed the California Science Center Act in 1988, creating a new public-private partnership structure. A master plan by architect Renzo Piano was developed for a phased rebuild. The museum closed its original exhibits in 1996 and reopened as the **California Science Center** in 1998, with the new **World of Life** pavilion. This transformation was overseen by the **California Science Center Foundation** and marked a shift from state-operated to a non-profit model, enabling major fundraising for subsequent expansions like the **Space Shuttle Endeavour** display.

Notable events and programs

The institution hosted significant temporary exhibitions, such as **Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs**, which drew record crowds. Its **Science Carnival** and annual **Black Family Day** were cornerstone community events. The museum was an early adopter of **OMNIMAX** film technology, showing productions like **The Dream Is Alive** about the Space Shuttle program. It also presented lectures by notable figures including Carl Sagan and hosted competitions like the **California State Science Fair**. Collaborations with Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Southern California were frequent, providing content for public programs.

Governance and funding

Initially, the museum was a state agency under the California Department of Education and received its operating budget directly from the California State Legislature. The 1988 Act established the **California Science Center** as a state agency with policy set by a gubernatorially-appointed **Board of Directors**, while day-to-day operations and fundraising were managed by the separate, non-profit **California Science Center Foundation**. This model, similar to that used by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, allowed for substantial private donations from entities like the Ahmanson Foundation and W. M. Keck Foundation, crucial for the capital campaign to build new pavilions and acquire the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Category:Defunct museums in Los Angeles Category:Science museums in California Category:Exposition Park, Los Angeles Category:Museums established in 1951 Category:Museums disestablished in 1998