Powerhouse Science Center
 | |
| Established | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1333 Camino del Rio Durango, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37°16′44″N 107°52′48″W / 37.2788°N 107.87997°W |
| Type | Science museum |
| Website | powsci.org |
Powerhouse Science Center, formerly The Durango Discovery Museum, is an interactive science center located in Durango, Colorado. The museum opened on February 23, 2011 in what was once a power plant.[1]
The museum is located in the Durango Light and Power Company building, built in 1892. The plant was a very early alternating current power plant, the power we use today, meaning the town of Durango had AC powered street lights before many large cities in the East. In honor of its past, the museum focuses on energy-related themes throughout its exhibit spaces and in its outreach programs. The renovated Mission-style powerhouse is a state and national historic place. Today, the original boiler room remains intact and serves as the science center's theater.
Located on the bank of the Animas River, along the Animas River Trail, the museum is part of the City of Durango's initiative to revitalize the riverfront to improve Colorado tourism.[2] The Museum is located at 1333 Camino Del Rio, Durango, Colorado.
Events and Activities
[edit]The Four Corners FIRST LEGO League, a regional Lego Robotics competition, was coordinated by the museum in 2014.[3]
Reboot
[edit]The Durango Discovery Museum closed in May 2015 due to financial troubles. Community organizations then began reorganizing and reopened the museum as the Powerhouse Science Center.[4][5] As part of the reboot, they also dedicated a small building on the property as a maker lab and hackerspace. The main focus was to offer the community a tinkerspace and provide opportunities for interesting workshops.
Media
[edit]Hacking at Leaves is a documentary film by Johannes Grenzfurthner that chronicles the community efforts at the Powerhouse MakerLab during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lab played a pivotal role in the global response by producing medical equipment for the Four Corners region, focusing specifically on the hard-hit Navajo Nation.
References
[edit]- ^ "Local Briefs". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "Denver, Durango and Loveland pursuing state funds for tourism draws". The Denver Post.
- ^ "Lego Robotics teams going to regional contest in Durango". The Cortez Journal.
- ^ "Powerhouse plugs back in to Durango". The Durango Herald.
- ^ "Science Center looks to reopen". The Durango Herald.
External links
[edit]- Powerhouse Science Center - official site
- [1] - Open Letter to the community, explaining closure on May 9, 2015