News

July 8, 2020

The Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci) to Re-open on July 16, 2020

The Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci) will re-open its doors to the general public on Thursday, July 16, and will be operating on a modified schedule, Thursday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m .and 1:30 – 4 p.m. General admission will be free, and donations are encouraged. To donate online, please visit www.misci.org/join-support/. Patrons are required to purchase tickets at www.misci.org/visit/ before visiting miSci. Tickets can be purchased for morning or afternoon sessions. Interactive kits are available for purchase and are free for members.

“miSci is thrilled to be re-opening its doors to the public. The COVID-19 health emergency has presented many unprecedented challenges for everyone in our country”, says Dr. Gina Gould, President of miSci.”‘miSci is the community’s Museum, and we are making every effort to ensure that we continue to serve it by providing safe, fun, and exciting in-person and digital experiences. We look forward to welcoming our patrons and their families back to explore the wonders of science and technology. Many thanks to our donors, members, and sponsors whose support has helped sustain miSci during this difficult time.”

There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at miSci, however, to prepare for its re-opening, miSci has established new safety processes and procedures as prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health. These processes and procedures include the following:

  • Enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols will occur throughout the day.
  • Establishment of dedicated hand sanitation stations available throughout the Museum.
  • Modified pedestrian traffic flow procedures and decreased building occupancy to ensure compliance with social distancing guidelines.
  • Removal of non-essential interactive exhibitions and displays.
  • All patrons will be required to wear a mask during their visit. All miSci staff and volunteers will also be required to wear a mask and protective equipment.
  • We ask that all our patrons take an active role in minimizing the risk of infection by checking their temperature within 24 hours prior to their visit. Those whose temperature is at or exceeding 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), have tested positive for COVID, or been exposed to those who have and are currently in quarantine, should refrain from coming to miSci.

To further protect our patrons, we have temporarily closed our most highly interactive and ‘touched’ exhibitions and developed two miSci-curated exhibitions, Sound Recording and Play! Each includes notable artifacts from miSci’s collections.

Sound Recording highlights miSci’s collection of some of the most important sound recording artifacts in the world. The exhibition highlights how the sound recording industry evolved Edison’s tinfoil phonograph to the current digital age and features miSci’s efforts to use new digital technology to preserve early sound recordings. Highlights include:

  • America’s oldest surviving sound recording, an Edison tinfoil from 1878.
  • A rare Berliner gramophone from the 1890s. Emile Berliner invented the first disc phonograph.
  • An experimental 1920s ‘sound-on’ film recorder.
  • The Victrola phonograph and the story of Nipper, the source for the famous ‘dog-and-gramophone’ photograph and pairing.
  • Early magnetic recording technology, including the Play Talk, a rare magnetic recording toy from 1948.

Play! utilizes miSci’s collections to explore the evolution of play over time, focusing on outdoor recreation. Traditionally, play prepared children for adult roles. With the development of the electrical industry and the second industrial revolution, families started to gain more time for leisure activities. That additional time helped give rise to professional sports and popularized fantasy. Featured objects will include:

  • A 1947 champion Soap Box Derby car.
  • A three-wheeled tricycle from the 1870s.
  • A penny-farthing bicycle that was the first vehicle to travel over Schenectady’s Western Gateway Bridge.
  • Charles Steinmetz’s ice skates.
  • A 19th-century ironclad toy ship.
  • Dolls dating back to the 19th century.
  • Autographed baseballs from Capital Region minor league baseball teams.

Further information regarding miSci and its current offerings can be found at www.misci.org. Due to social distancing guidelines, the Suits-Bueche Planetarium and the Challenger Learning Center are currently offline. SenseAble Science has also been temporarily suspended.