Hands on

Popular museum gets face-lift, major expansion

We're off to see the wizard - Mr. Wizard, that is.

The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is in the middle of a $4.2 million renovation intended to quadruple the size of the museum.

The museum, located in Ann Arbor's old Central Fire Station, features more than 250 interactive exhibits incorporating concepts of physics, math, biology, physiology, botany, geology, technology, art and history.

Part of the $4.2 million was raised by selling bricks on the museum's new entrance feature - a yellow brick road. Depending on the size of the purchased brick, the sponsor cost can range from $250 to $1,000.

Supporters receive a commemorative certificate, an engraved brick on the yellow brick road and a locator map to find the brick once the road is complete. Bricks are available for purchase until April 16.

Renovations to the museum include a musical staircase that plays a different musical note on each step, a new 5,000 square-foot Techworks gallery that includes an interactive water play area and the National Science Foundation-funded exhibition, "How Things Work."

The museum is also adding a science theater to stage Mr. Wizard- type shows conducted by high school and college students and Eureka Labs, which will be used daily for lab demonstrations, classes or workshops.

Many of the current exhibits also will be updated. The outside of the museum will feature an enormous sundial designed by Bil Mundus, Kit Steinaway and Dick Crane.

"I remember when I was younger that the Hand-On Museum was the best field trip because you can run around and touch everything," said LSA sophomore Tiffany Powell. "That's great that they're making more space because sometimes it was crowded with different groups of kids."

The expanded museum's grand opening will be held Oct. 19 - the 100th anniversary of the old fire building.

"There's a lot of excitement coming from the Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers," said Cynthia Yao, the museum's executive director. "We can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel."

The newly-renovated museum will also offer weekend demonstrations such as "The Shocking Truth," a program on static electricity. Classes and workshops for children and families also will be offered.

"I think it's great they're doing this to the museum, because I think it's time they did something," said LSA first-year student Anna Pavlicek. "It was always small, and since everyone liked going there, it might as well be bigger."

The Hands-On Museum is located at 219 E. Huron Street, and is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday.

For more information about group reservations or purchasing bricks, call 995-5439.

DANA LINNANE/Daily TOP: Marko Mitkowski and Brittaly Rejniak peer at each other through a mirror and glass window during a field trip to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

yesterday.

ABOVE: Chantar Yousif uses a microscope at the Reflection Protection exhibit in the museum

yesterday.

03-17-99