About

Jacksonville’s Museum of Science & History makes science, history, and innovation accessible for all! Whatever your age or interest, there’s always something to see and explore across three levels of exciting exhibits. From interactive, award-winning favorites like Currents of Time and Atlantic Tails to the Florida Naturalist’s Center, which houses animals that are native to Northeast Florida, there is something for all ages to discover. Indulge your imagination with a science or live animal show, or explore distant galaxies in one of our planetarium programs. When visiting Northeast Florida’s only science and history museum, there is no limit to what you can discover!

• Engagement: We are committed to thoughtful and intentional participation in our community’s growth.
• Pride: Our identity is rooted in a legacy of education, which informs our current role in the region’s cultural development.
• Excellence: To maintain high standards for our collections, programs, and customer service, we must commit to giving our very best.
• Collaboration: Growth is only achieved by working with each other, our peer organizations, and our guests.
• Innovation: Every day, we seek new ways to bring learning to life through science and history.
• Trust: Integrity and honesty guide our actions and decisions.

View MOSH’s Impact Report for 2021, including a breakdown of our funding, community reach, tourism, economic development, programs and exhibitions. In addition, see how many people it takes to make MOSH interactive, engaging and dynamic.

The Museum of Science and History of Jacksonville, Inc. (MOSH) commits to championing and celebrating policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a diverse inclusive, and accessible environment. This commitment is achieved through equitable Organizational Programming, Human Capital practices and strategic Community Engagements. We acknowledge inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility as drivers of institutional excellence. It is our goal at MOSH to connect and create opportunities for our employees, volunteers, members, partners, stakeholders and the communities we serve to express their uniqueness through participation, thought and action.

Inclusion is establishing an environment that is welcoming, accepting, and reflective of the community’s diversity. “Diversity always exists in social systems. Inclusion must be created.” ^[1]

Diversity is defined as “the quality of being different or unique at the individual or group level. This includes age; ethnicity; gender; gender identity; gender expression; language differences; nationality; parental status; physical, mental and developmental abilities; race; religion; sexual orientation; skin color; socio-economic status; education; work and behavioral styles; the perspectives of each individual shaped by their nation, experiences and culture—and more. Even when people appear the same on the outside, they are different.” ^[1] MOSH acknowledges, respects and welcomes additional forms of self identification and expression.

Equity is the identification and understanding of cultural causes of disparities in our society and the work to overcome those disparities according to the needs of the individual or group. “Equity asks us to acknowledge our position in relation to identities that give us privilege, access, class, money and power, and to consider these experiences when designing solutions to make society more fair and just.” ^[2] Creating equity may include processes and work that is different for particular individuals or groups, but the final outcome results in them being neither hindered nor elevated by their cultural disparities.

Accessibility “centers the needs and experiences of people with disabilities.” ^[3] The work of accessibility ensures spaces, information, programs and experiences are designed so that all people can readily, equally and equitably access them.

MOSH will strive to incorporate inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in all areas of the Museum’s work. Our Organizational Programming will prioritize IDEA practices with the products and services we offer through standards and best practices, research and data analysis and community feedback. Our Human Capital Practices will recruit, support, and nurture a governing board, employees and volunteers who can maximize their individual uniqueness and enable them to reach their full potential in the roles they serve. Our Community Engagement opportunities will foster and esteem collaboration where MOSH is appropriately challenged to strengthen our own integrity, impact and relevance. MOSH will model through action our commitment to creating an IDEA environment by constantly acknowledging our areas of inequities, pursuing on-going education, devoting real time and resources and evaluating our efforts.

MOSH recognizes that IDEA work is not something that is done once, but requires ongoing effort. All board, staff and volunteers incorporate these practices into their daily work. The IDEA Team, a cross-departmental working group, champions this work within the Museum. The group is charged with maintaining momentum on IDEA policies and practices in all areas of Museum operations.

[1] American Alliance of Museums. Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement, 2014.

[2] MASS Action. Toolkit, 2017.

[3] Rosen, Stephanie. Accessibility for Justice: Accessibility as a Tool for Promoting Justice in Librarianship, In the Library with the Lead Pipe, 2017.

The Museum of Science & History achieved its most recent accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) in 2011. Accreditation is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. Only 776 of the country’s 17,500 museums are AAM accredited. MOSH has been continually accredited since 1983.