Vacation Ideas: Avampato Discovery Museum, Charleston, West Virginia, USA

nThe Avampato Discovery Museum is located at one Clay Square, 300 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, West Virginia 25301. nn2007 HoursnnWednesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.nnAdmission PricesnnThe Smart Pass includes galleries, film and planetarium, $12 for adults, $10 for children, teachers and seniors. Galleries only are $6.50 for adults and $5 for children, teachers and seniors. Children age 2 and under are FREE to all events. They must sit on an adults lap at Electric Sky Theater.nnThe art collection is the museum’s greatest educational resource. It consists of more than 750 pieces of unique and distinguished artworks, and is accessible year-round to visitors, students and researchers. The collection includes:nn• Primarily works on paper by American artists from the 19th and 20th centuriesn• Charming examples of sculpture and other mediums offer diversity and exposure to broad cultural topicsnnScience exhibits include:nn• Gizmo Factory: This exhibit is made up of more than 30 exhibits exploring physical science with a particular emphasis on creativity and engineering, sound, light and color, and electricity and magnetism. The Gizmo Factory also features the WSAZ First Warning Weather Center where visitors can watch live broadcasts from the Museum, talk to meteorologists about the science behind predicting the weather, and present your own weather cast in front of the green screen.n• Earth City Exhibit: Is a unique spin on a traditional theme, Milton Gardner’s Earth City explores earth science with particular emphasis on the forces that have shaped West Virginia.n• Kids Space Exhibit: This exhibit is designed exclusively for children five and under. It caters to the needs, cognitive growth and interests of young children. It is a unique exhibit that brings the outdoors in and creates a fanciful space featuring a giant tree house, clouds that rain balls into a special ball pond, puzzles, games and elements that encourage physical play. There is a nursing room for mothers with infants and a Big Kids Room for older siblings.n• Health Royale Exhibit: Includes interactive exhibits exploring health and wellness as well as a larger than life animatronics game show that allows visitors to play along while testing basic health knowledge issues.nnThe Electric SkynnThe Avampato Discovery Museum Electric Sky Theater is the only operating giant screen theater in the state. It features a 61’ domed screen putting visitors in the center of the action and as close to reality as they can get without leaving the theater seat. Just imagine swimming along with dolphins as you watch them on this giant screen, and explore the surface of Mars for signs of life or visiting ancient Pompeii.nnFor more information about the Avampato Discovery Museum call 304-516-3575 or visit them online.nnSource: The Avampato Discovery Museum OnlinennImportant Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.nnnnThis article is FREE to publish with the resource box.nn© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reservednnnn