BENTONVILLE -- The Scott Family Amazeum will open July 15, officials announced Tuesday.
More details about opening day, hours and admission will be available closer to opening, said Dana Engelbert, marketing manager, before the announcement event.
At A Glance
Founding members will have a chance to experience the Scott Family Amazeum before it opens to the public July 15. Charter memberships are available. The Amazeum is also accepting donations of all levels for its continuing $28.5 million goal. Permanent recognition opportunities are available. For more information, visit www.amazeum.org.
Source: Scott Family Amazeum
The Amazeum's name change to Scott Family Amazeum is a recognition of the Scott family's support and leadership for the hands-on, interactive family museum, Engelbert said.
"It's a realization of how fortunate we have been to have this kind of support," she said.
Around 60 community members gathered at the Wal-Mart Museum to hear Amazeum's latest news.
Lee and Linda Scott have spent more than 30 years in Northwest Arkansas and were among early advocates of The Children's Museum of Northwest Arkansas that eventually became the Scott Family Amazeum, according to a news release.
"We are honored to have an institution we care so deeply about be named for our family," Lee Scott said in the release. "We are so happy that we have been given the opportunity to give back to the Northwest Arkansas community, and we hope that our support of the Amazeum will inspire others to give."
The Scott's weren't able to attend Tuesday's event.
The nearly 50,000 sq. foot museum is nearing completion at 1009 Museum Way. It neighbors Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and First Presbyterian Church and is across the street from Orchards Park and a residential neighborhood.
"The support we have received from Lee and Linda Scott, and their family, has been tremendous," Molly Rawn, director of development and communications, said. "They have been generous not only with their financial support but also with their time and talent."
Their son, Eric Scott, serves on the board. His wife, Elda Scott, supports the organization's efforts with volunteer service and making community connections, according to Rawn.
Eric and Elda have two children, ages 6 and 12. Elda Scott said they believe the Amazeum will enhance the lives of so many families for years to come.
They've been involved with Amazeum's efforts for the last 10 years, when it was still The Children's Museum of Northwest Arkansas.
"It's a thrill to see it all come together," Elda Scott said Tuesday morning. "It just feels like it's going to be such an incredible gift to so many families and so many children of every socio-economic background. Their eyes and their minds are going to be wide open and exposed to so many great things. I'm just thrilled that we get to be a part of that."
Officials also announced details about a permanent exhibit, The Market, that will recognize Wal-Mart as a sponsor.
"For some time, Walmart has been a signature sponsor," Sam Dean, executive director, said. "They have stayed with us as this project has evolved, never wavering in their dedication to making our community outstanding. And that support will be recognized with an exhibit in the Amazeum."
The exhibit will look like a Neighborhood Market and will provide various role-playing opportunities for children.
"It's not a real Neighborhood Market. You cannot buy groceries at the Amazeum," Engelbert said.
The role-playing activities is what sets the grocery store apart from others in other children's museums, she added. Children can pretend to stock shelves, work in the bakery or behind the butcher counter as well as buy groceries or be a cashier.
Artist Matthew Moore's work will also be a part of The Market, according to the news release. He was featured in Crystal Bridges' State of the Art exhibit.
His time-lapse photography of crops growing will be installed in the exhibit. Visitors will be able to speed up, slow down or reverse the growth process.
The museum will feature about a dozen indoor exhibits. Some include Lift, Load and Haul presented by General Mills, the Hershey chocolate lab, the 27-foot-tall tree canopy climber and the Tinkering Studio.
There also will be an acre of active outdoor space.
Inside the drywall is up, painting has been done and floors are being polished, Engelbert said. Outside, the driveway was poured Tuesday and landscaping will happen soon.
"We're getting to the point where the building is going to looked finished," she said. Then the staff can move in and the work inside really gets moving, she added.
More than 700 households have bought Amazeum memberships as of Tuesday, according to Amy Stockton, membership manager. The majority are from Bentonville. Stockton said she's working on outreach efforts to surrounding areas.
Amazeum is an Association of Science-Technology Centers member, so members of the Amazeum get free access to other ASTC museums, which is great for families who may visit other museums over spring break and early summer, Stockton said.
That benefit starts when an Amazeum membership is bought even though Amazeum isn't open yet, she said.
NW News on 03/18/2015