History Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

omsi @ 1958–1992 location, planetarium building in front

on november 5, 1944, oregon museum foundation founded mission of establishing oregon museum of history, science, , industry. displayed first collection of natural history objects @ portland hotel. subsequent small exhibits occurred around town generate interest , donations. in 1949, house @ 908 ne hassalo donated establish museum. within year, pacific northwest s first public planetarium opened in dome on front lawn.

by 1955, omsi s annual attendance had grown 25,000. need expansion led volunteers building new site @ washington park, completing original goal of hands-on museum. (that building occupied portland children s museum.) opened public on august 3, 1958, following formal dedication governor on june 7. planetarium again included. new building @ southwest corner of hoyt park (now part of washington park) located adjacent then-new site of portland zoo (now oregon zoo), began one-year phased move in same month new omsi opened. 2 attractions remained neighbors, sharing parking lot, until 1992. planetarium @ washington park site 90-seat facility housed in temporary dome, in 1967 replaced larger, 142-seat facility in distinctive dodecahedron (12-sided) building equipped new projector.

1992 move

omsi viewed willamette river

by mid-1980s, 600,000 people per year visiting building, designed 100,000. expansion @ washington park site deemed infeasible, , in 1986 announced museum move new location on east bank of willamette river, larger building constructed. property included historic station l power plant donated portland general electric, , building construction paid fundraising campaign. in 1992, omsi opened @ new site, continues current location. construction integrated existing pge turbine building , included creation of 330-seat omnimax theater. facility includes 200-seat planetarium digistar 3 technology.

21st century

in 2004 turbine hall closed september through november renovations in discovery space , technology lab changed places , new inventors ballroom added. added small stage area public exhibit demonstrations , bridge connecting new metal staircase mezzanine exhibits.

the museum started planning expansion of facility in 2006. in 2008, omsi began finalizing plans expansion, estimated cost $500 million , double size of museum. began working secure funds expansion next year, decided hold off on plans in 2010 after poor economy had made difficult try , raise funds project.

the omnimax dome theater closed in september 2013 conversion conventional flat-screen movie theater not imax still has extra-large screen, 4 stories tall. renamed empirical theater, reopened in december 2013.