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Frequently Asked Questions about Bishop Planetarium and
the South Florida Museum |
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Early in the morning of August 23, 2001, an electrical fire destroyed the interior
of the domed planetarium theater and severely damaged adjacent education, administration
and support spaces. Since that time, the community has expressed great interest in South
Florida Museum plans for the almost 12,000 square feet of affected area.
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Planetarium
- Wasn't the Bishop Planetarium the only planetarium in the region?
- When will the Planetarium (multi-purpose dome theater) reopen?
- What happened to the observatory?
Museum In General
- What are the strengths and capabilities of the museum?
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| Planetarium |
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Wasn't the Bishop Planetarium the only planetarium in the region? |
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No. There are planetariums in Tampa (MOSI), Lakeland (Miller Planetarium), Fort Myers (Imaginarium), Sarasota (Riverview High School) and St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg Science Center and St. Petersburg College). Pine View School in Sarasota County recently announced plans to acquire a "portable" planetarium. |
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When will the Planetarium (multi-purpose dome theater) reopen? |
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The Planetarium Lobby, the Museum's Education Wing, administrative offices and Planetarium support areas are all open now. The new theater, with stadium-style seating, a tilted 180 degree projection dome, a state-of- the-science DLP all-dome, high definition projection system and 6.1 surround sound is now under construction and is expected to open in Spring, 2005. |
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What happened to the observatory? |
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The observatory is a small domed room on the roof of the Museum. Its telescopes were used for night sky viewing and daytime solar observations, which could be transmitted into the planetarium for public viewing. Tropical Storm Gabrielle weakened the adjacent platforms, which had to be removed, making it unsafe for public access. Sensitive equipment has been removed to a climate-controlled environment. The cost of refurbishing the observatory and making it compliant with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is estimated to be well over $1,000,000, a sum that, at this time, is not available to the Museum. |
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| Museum In General |
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What are the strengths and capabilities of the museum? |
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The strength of any museum over time is the uniqueness and strength of its collections. They are the ultimate resources for exhibits, education programs, donor interest and major gifts, as evidenced by the recent success of our $7,000,000 Strengthening The Legacy capital campaign. Theaters, computer games and touch programs are ancillary, entertainment-oriented activities whose popularity may not endure. The highlights of a visit to the museum today would include Snooty the Manatee and the newly renovated exhibit area, which includes dramatic and educational displays of Southwest Florida during prehistoric times. The museum also provides prime venues for group gatherings that contribute revenue to the complex. The museum store is a strong revenue provider. Being located in the downtown district near the riverfront is a plus. We could go on, but you get the idea. |
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Corporate Partners: Bright House Networks, Bay News 9, CPA Associates,
Conquistador Historical Foundation, Inc., The Eye Depot, First Priority Bank,
The Herald, M&I Bank, Mike Carter Construction,
Northern Trust Bank Of Florida
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This web site, its contents, graphics and text are ©2002 - 2007
South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
For comments, questions,
or suggestions about this site, contact the
Webmaster.
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