McWane Science Center

McWane Science Center

Location within Alabama
Established	11 July 1998 (1998-07-11)
Location	Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Coordinates	33°30′54″N 86°48′30″W / 33.515079°N 86.808378°W / 33.515079; -86.808378
Type	Science
Key holdings	Fossils
Collection size	500,000+
Website	www.mcwane.org

The McWane Science Center (formerly known as the McWane Center) is a science museum and research archive located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama (United States). The state-of-the-art science center, aquarium and 280-seat IMAX Dome Theater is housed in the historic and refurbished Loveman's department store building. It opened to the public on July 11, 1998.

Inside are more than 9,000 square feet (800 m²) of interactive exhibits, including the Challenger Learning Center of Alabama, created in memory of the Space Shuttle Challenger Flight 51-L crew.

On the lower level there is The World of Water exhibit showcasing more than 50 species of marine and freshwater aquatic life. There is a touch tank with different species of small sharks and rays. There are also shark teeth that can be observed under a microscope and different displays about water pollution.

The Alabama Collections Center (located on the second floor) is the home for more than 500,000 artifacts from the former Red Mountain Museum. The center houses precious minerals, fossils and Native American artifacts. Highlights in the collection include the world's fourth-largest collection of mosasaurs; the Appalachiosaurus (similar to Tyrannosaurus); and the state fossil of Alabama, the Basilosaurus cetoides (an 80-foot (24 m) fossil whale).

For smaller children there is the Itty Bitty Magic City exhibit (on the second floor) featuring a climbing structure, a water play area, an area for toddlers specifically, and an area with smaller versions of common buildings in a city. The model buildings are all made to help younger children learn skills they will need later on or connect with their parents. One example is a model grocery stores where children can learn about the main food groups while "shopping" with their parents. The exhibit opened on May 16, 2015 and was a remodeling of an older early childhood play place with the same name previously located on the third floor.^[1]

The McWane Science Center is named after the McWane family and McWane, Inc. both of which helped fund the center.

An outside picture of McWane Science Center

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Coordinates: 33°30′53″N 86°48′30″W / 33.51477°N 86.808262°W / 33.51477; -86.808262