New AMSE has grand opening in October

 

The new American Museum of Science and Energy at Main Street Oak Ridge will have a grand opening ceremony on October 18, officials said Friday.

The ceremony will welcome visitors to the new location on the northeast side of Main Street Oak Ridge, near JCPenney. The new 18,000-square-foot space will include a newly designed exhibit gallery featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits and hands-on activities, as well as a lecture hall and classroom facilities, a press release said.

“AMSE is planning a multi-phase opening to ensure a smooth transition and quality experience for museum staff, stakeholders, and the public,” the press release said.

On October 1, AMSE will open to the public on a limited schedule, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed on weekends). This will lead up to AMSE’s grand opening event on October 18, the press release said.

Full public operating hours will resume after the grand opening, the press release said. The U.S. Department of Energy public bus tours will begin at the new museum starting October 1.

The new facility will operate seven days a week beginning October 18:

• Monday: 1 to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday-Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m.

“I look forward to welcoming the public to the new American Museum of Science and Energy,” says Julia Bussinger, the new AMSE director. “The new museum celebrates Oak Ridge’s history of engineering and scientific accomplishments in an interactive format that is sure to engage, inform, and entertain visitors of all ages.”

Exhibits in the new AMSE fall within one of five major categories: energy leadership, big science, national security, environmental restoration, and the Manhattan Project. “All tell the story of Oak Ridge’s contributions to scientific and engineering advancements that began decades ago and continue today,” the press release said.

“The new AMSE is a fitting addition to heritage and science tourism, highlighting the places in our community that put Oak Ridge on the map,” said Kenneth R. Tarcza, manager of the Integrated Support Center—Oak Ridge for the U.S. Department of Energy. “Its new location ensures the museum remains a central fixture in the community.”

Attracting approximately 65,000 visitors a year, AMSE is considered a top tourist attraction in the Oak Ridge/Knoxville area. The museum has played a central role in telling the story of Oak Ridge’s involvement in the Manhattan Project during World War II.

See our most recent AMSE story with more information about the move here.

See more AMSE stories here.

About American Museum of Science and Energy

The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) was established in 1949 to provide educational programs focused on the Department of Energy’s past, present, and future missions. Among other activities, AMSE provides interactive curriculum-based education programs for school groups and the general public, hosts permanent and rotating exhibits, provides live demonstrations, hosts events, and holds summer camp and outreach programs for students. AMSE is also the starting point for the DOE Public Bus Tour, which includes stops at the Y-12 New Hope Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the East Tennessee Technology Park.  AMSE will also partner with the National Park Service (NPS) to host programs for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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