Tampa Museum Adopts New Identity and Adds 30,000 Square Feet for Student Programs

The Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa revealed a fresh name and announced it is growing its Center for STEAM Learning on Tuesday morning. The building gained 30,000 square feet of classroom lab space.

Staff used chemical reactions to transform a sign with the old name into the new one during the 11 a.m. event. The growth centers on science, technology, engineering, art, and math instruction.

This new space will let the museum quadruple the number of school field trip students and school break campers it serves each year.

"Innovation, I think, really reflects the recent history here at MOSI and the future, the path forward," said John Graydon Smith, President and CEO of MOSI, according to Fox 13.

The Tampa museum has switched names twice before. It started as the Museum of Science and Natural History in 1962. Twenty years later, in 1982, it became the Museum of Science & Industry.

The Center for STEAM Learning expansion marks a big investment in teaching programs for Tampa Bay. More students from schools across the region can now fit in the added classroom lab space.

The museum issued a press release about the changes. Staff shared details about the new name during Tuesday's morning event.

The sign transformation during the press conference served as a public demonstration of scientific principles taught at the museum. Chemical reactions provided the method for showing the new branding to attendees and media.