Michigan Science Center In Detroit To Open Dec. 26
DETROIT (WWJ) - We now know when the science center, closed for more than a year because of budget problems, will reopen in the city of Detroit.
Armed with a new name, the Michigan Science Center is set to reopen the day after Christmas, Dec. 26.
Tom Stephens, the center's chairman of the board, told WWJ's Pat Sweeting he can't wait to see and hear the museum buzzing again.
"What we're trying to do is to open the science center to the public on December 26 and then keep it open all through the holidays until January 6, with the exception of New Years Day. We're also going to stay open to the public for the weekends and then starting at the end of January, it's going to be open five days a week and sustainable going forward," he said.
The Detroit Science Center closed in September 2011 after its board decided an ongoing deficit had created a financial crisis that couldn't be fixed without halting operations. When the science center closed, it was millions of dollars in the red. In the meantime however, over $5 million has been raised to cover the museum's operating expenses.
"The former Detroit Science Center was roughly $10 to $11 million in debt and the bank foreclosed on the science center. We were a lot lucky enough to work with a very prominent Ann Arbor business leader, Ron Weiser, who allowed us to stop the liquidation of the Detroit Science Center by him purchasing the land, building and contents," Stephens said.
The Michigan Science Center is now classified as a 501-c-3 entity, which means contributions can be tax-deductible.
Visit www.michigansciencecenter.org to keep up with all the center's latest updates.
