The two RV Gypsies took their great-grandson
to the Museum of Discovery and Science
401 SW 2nd Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
phone '954.467.6637 |
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The Museum of Discovery and Science is a museum located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is one of the largest museums of its kind in Florida. The museum features its own AutoNation IMAX theater, and shows 3-D IMAX films in which viewers wear special glasses and headsets. The museum also featured a simulated ride to Mars and a MaxFlight airplane simulator (These are at an extra cost).
The Museum of Discovery and Science currently featured a Discovery Center for ages 7 and under, a Go Green exhibit, Rockets including airplane simulators and information about space, minerals and rocks on display, games, and puzzles.
The Museum of Discovery and Science moved to its current location in downtown Fort Lauderdale in 1992. The museum plays host to birthday parties, sea turtle walks and camp-ins, and has its own day camp.
The Museum of Discovery and Science also funds a volunteer program that allows children and adults alike to give back to the community.
The IMAX theater features a 60' ц≈ 80' screen and currently plays both 2-D and 3-D movies. The five-story-high screen is the largest in South Florida. |
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The Great Gravity Clock in front of the entrance is one of the main features of the museum and is one of only three in the world. The other two are in Japan and Mexico. At 52-feet tall, the Great Gravity Clock is the biggest kinetic energy sculpture in Florida.
How does it work?
There are three slightly tilted rails just below the face of the clock. These are the Minute rail, the Ten-minute rail, and the Hour rail. A ball rolls onto a rail with the passing of every minute, every ten minutes, and every hour. Because each ball represents an increment of time, the Great Gravity Clock is a digital clock. Each minute, a ball moves around the face of the clock and is released onto the digital rails. Gravity takes over causing the balls to travel the rails.
Can you tell the time by counting the balls?
It's easy! If 8 balls are on the bottom Hour rail, 5 balls are on the middle Ten-minute rail, and 4 balls are on the top Minute rail, what time is it? If you answered 8:54, you're correct!
The Great Gravity Clock is Sponsored by JM Family Enterprises, Inc.,/Jim and Jan Moran.
Resource: http://www.mods.org/exhibits/clock.htm |
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The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science was the perfect place for the two RV Gypsies to take their great-grandson for an afternoon of entertainment and learning. They found it to be a great interactive science museum and quite enjoyable. There were many permanent interactive exhibits that kept Anthony's attention, plus some special exhibits. |
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Lee Duquette and his great-grandson stepped into the mouth of a giant 50 foot Megalodon, an extinct species of shark that lived many millions of years ago, and they lived to tell the tale. |
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The two RV Gypsies watched the playful antics of a North American river otter. Active both day and night, North American river otters have a curious and animated nature, entertaining with a wide variety of sliding, hunting and chasing behaviors, which makes them one of the most popular exhibits in the new EcoDiscovery Center. Anthony enjoyed the otters’ playful world from the underwater viewing on the first floor.
North American river otters are semi-aquatic mammals. From their whiskers to their webbed feet, these guys and their warm blooded buddies help educate visitors about what it takes to keep ecosystems vibrant and healthy. Visitors will also learn that otters are very vocal, and communicate to one another with a large variety of calls, such as whistles, buzzes, twitters, staccato chuckles and chirps.
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The great-grandson of the two RV Gypsies walked under a 12-foot-tall Imperial Mammoth. Only Anthony's leg shows in the photo below. |
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Anthony was amazed by his ability to make clouds. |
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Anthony learns a bit about plants and electricity. |
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Anthony also learned about steam and clouds. |
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The display shown below occasionally moved, and Anthony observed it from a distance. |
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Anthony discovered that he could make very long bubbles. |
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Lee and his great-grandson played with boats in the water. |
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Then it was time to go up the escalator to the second floor and have fun in the Runway to Rockets area. |
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Anthony really enjoyed the Runways to Rockets area which included airplane simulators and information about space.
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Anthony enjoying making his handprint. |
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Anthony climbing and spinning. The Spinning movie is posted in the TOC Movies section of this website. |
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The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale