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Children's Discovery Center Opens at Petersen Automotive Museum

18 November 1997

Children's Discovery Center Opens at Petersen Automotive Museum

            Media Preview November 20 - Public Opening November 22

    LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 -- Children's interest in science is
"sparked" by way of the automobile at the new May Family Discovery Center at
the Petersen Automotive Museum, opening November 22, 1997.  The 6,500 square
foot interactive "hands-on" learning center teaches children basic scientific
principles using the car.  Fun for the entire family, it is modeled after the
successful Discovery Center at the established partner museum, the Natural
History Museum of Los Angeles County.  The May Family Discovery Center is made
possible by a $1 million grant provided by the May Family Foundation.
    EDITOR'S NOTE: A Media Preview will take place Thursday, November 20
from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Petersen Automotive Museum.  School children will tour
the Center and Museum Director Ken Gross will be available for interviews.
    Housed on the third floor of the largest auto-oriented museum in the U.S.,
the May Family Discovery Center consists of a variety of interactive learning
stations, targeted to children ages 6 to 16.  "The purpose of this Discovery
Center," Museum Director Ken Gross said, "is to demonstrate basic principles
that help reveal why a car works.  By using easily recognized automotive
components, children can discover new insights into such scientific laws of
motion, force, energy and mass distribution."
    The entire May Family Discovery Center consists of three areas: the East
and West Wings and the VroomRoom.  The East Wing houses the interactive
exhibits, while the West Wing is a sit-down activity area geared towards
toddlers.  The VroomRoom is an audio traffic jam, where visitors trigger
infra-red detectors that activate various automotive noises, demonstrating how
sound travels.
    Among the highlights of the May Family Discovery Center is a state-of-the-
art computerized Driver's Education automobile simulator, donated by Sierra
On-Line, Inc., producers of the new software program Driver's Education
'98(TM).  Especially designed for the Museum visitor, the Driver's Ed
simulator replicates real-time driving situations including congested traffic,
freeways and hazardous driving conditions.
    An actual Sparkletts(R) truck, donated by McKesson Water Products Company,
allows young children and their parents to "check-out" activity bottles filled
with educational toys and games on a variety of science subjects.  Other
components in the new Discovery Center include a giant combustion engine where
kids can become "human spark plugs," an exhibit of large tires that discusses
the laws of forces and motion, a "gravitram" that demonstrates the Newtonian
physics principles of gravity and momentum, and more.  In all, there are more
than 20 learning stations to experience.
    Admission to the May Family Discovery Center is included with general
admission to the Petersen Automotive Museum.  Tickets are $7 for adults, $5
seniors and students with I.D. and $3 for children ages five to 12.  Museum
members and children under 5 are admitted free.  For general museum
information call (213) 930-CARS or visit the Museum's website at
http://www.petersen.org.
    The Petersen Automotive Museum, operated by the Natural History Museum of
Los Angeles County, is dedicated to the interpretive study of the automobile
and its influence on our cultures and lives.  Museum exhibits feature more
than 200 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles and historic dioramas.
The Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, along Museum Row.  Hours are
Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SOURCE  Petersen Automotive Museum