MOSH Timeline

1941

childrens museum

The Association for Childhood Education charters The Jacksonville Children’s Museum, located at 1061 Riverside Avenue.

1948

The Jacksonville Children’s Museum moves in a Victorian mansion in Riverside.

1967

opossums

MOSH’s Naturalists have offered hands-on learning opportunities for decades. These opossums were part of the living collection in 1967.

1969

Opened 33,000-square-foot building in a more centralized Downtown location along the Southbank.

1977

The Jacksonville Children’s Museum becomes the Jacksonville Museum of Arts and Sciences.

1983

The Museum earns its first accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

1988

The Jacksonville Museum of Arts and Sciences becomes the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), and 37,500 square feet of space is added — including the Alexander Brest Planetarium.

1993

MOSH is designated as a Florida Major Cultural institution by the Department of State.

1994

The current building is renovated to expand the core exhibition galleries, add program and classroom space, increase collection storage spaces, and upgrade all of the support systems.

1996

Opened core exhibit Atlantic Tails: Whales, Dolphins & Manatees of Northeast Florida.

1996

MOSH receives the Mimi and Lee Adams Environmental Award for the exhibit Atlantic Tails: Whales, Dolphins & Manatees of Northeast Florida.

1997

Completed renovations, increasing square footage to 82,200 square feet.

1997

Earned subsequent accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

1997

Opened core exhibit Currents of Time: A History of Jacksonville & Northeast Florida.

1997

Received Jacksonville Environmental Protection Agency Institution’s Award for Atlantic Tails: Whales, Dolphins & Manatees of Northeast Florida.

1997

Named Smithsonian Affiliate.

1998

Received National Award of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History for the interpretation of regional history through the exhibit Currents of Time: A History of Jacksonville & Northeast Florida.

1999

Received City of Jacksonville Historic Preservation Award for Currents of Time: A History of Jacksonville & Northeast Florida.

1999

Named International Star Station One partner.

2002

Opened renovated JEA Science Theater.

2002

Opened core exhibit Aqua Expo.

2004

Opened core science exhibit Universe of Science.

2005

Opened core exhibit Florida Naturalist’s Center.

2008

Opened core aquarium exhibit Water Worlds.

2009

Commemorated 60th anniversary of continuous contract with Duval County Public Schools.

2009

Opened core health science exhibit The Body Within, in partnership with Baptist Health.

2009

Opened new 2,400-square-foot classroom suite on the Museum’s first floor.

2010

Unveiled the new Bryan-Gooding Planetarium in the fully renovated Alexander Brest Science Theater.

2010

Opened the Space Science Gallery.

2011

Complete Phase I of the Hixon Native Plant Courtyard renovation.

2011

Earned subsequent reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

2012

Completed Phase II of the Hixon Native Plant Courtyard renovation.

2012

Opened Interpreting Northeast Florida: A Historic Mural by Elmer Grey, in partnership with Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

2013

Opened core exhibit JEA PowerPlay: Understanding Our Energy Choices and the newly renovated JEA Science Theater.

2013

Received City of Jacksonville Historic Preservation Award for signature exhibit Jacksonville by Design: AIA Celebrates 100 Years of Architecture.

2013

Named 2013 Best Museum and 2013 Best Educational Camp by Jax4Kids.

2014

Received the Regional Council Special Achievement Award in Partnership with Mayor Alvin Brown for 450 Years of French History in Florida.

2014

Received The Nonprofit Center for Northeast Florida’s Change Agent Award for the community-wide RACE initiative.

2014

Received the 2014 Collaboration and Innovation award for RACE: Are We So Different?

2015

Received the City of Jacksonville Historic Preservation Award for signature exhibit Uncovering the Past: New Archaeological Discoveries of Northeast Florida.

2016

Opened new core exhibit Health in Motion: Discover What MOVES You.

2016

Opened new outdoor sustainable landscape exhibit JEA HydroLogic.

2017

Organized Voices of Hope community programming initiative with partners across the region focused on the Anne Frank: A History for Today exhibition.