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Science Museum Oklahoma is a science museum located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The museum features several notable attractions, including the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, and various specialized galleries. With a facility spanning over 390,000 square feet, it ranks among the largest science museums in the nation. Originally established as the Kirkpatrick Planetarium in 1958, the museum underwent significant expansions in 1980, 1985, 2000, and 2007.
The Science Museum Oklahoma, originally named the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, was established in 1958. It relocated to a permanent facility at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in 1962.[1] Later that year, the Oklahoma Science and Arts Foundation facility was completed on the fairgrounds.[1] In 1978, the foundation underwent a name change to Omniplex Science Museum. Subsequently, it relocated with the Kirkpatrick Planetarium to the newly constructed Kirkpatrick Center museum campus.[1] Subsequent expansions to the museum complex include the addition of the Oklahoma Air and Space Museum in 1980, the establishment of the Kirkpatrick Gardens and Greenhouse in 1985, and the introduction of the OmniDome Theatre in 2000, which notably became Oklahoma's inaugural large-format, dome-screen theater.[1] In 2007, Omniplex underwent a name change to Science Museum Oklahoma. Following the rebranding, the museum underwent significant remodeling efforts, introducing numerous new exhibits and galleries. These additions included a space exhibit designed to engage younger visitors and various art galleries.
