A little bit of background:

The Hands-On Science Center facility was established in 1995 as a place to encourage local children’s excitement, understanding and overall interest in science and mathematics. Since then we have more than doubled in size and continue to grow to this day thanks to the generous contributions of local citizens and businesses.

Board of Directors:

• President – Kim Nelson, Retired USAF
• Vice President – Sean Smith, AEDC Engineer
• Secretary -
• Treasurer – Andy Whitt, Jacobs
• Past President – Bill Hofmeister, UTSI Professor
• Catherine Murray – McMurr’s
• Ed Hoge – Optometrist-OD
• K.C. Reddy – UTSI Dean Emeritus and Professor
• Keely Beale – Aerospace Testing Alliance
• Brian Coate – Tullahoma Utilities Board
• Donna Rhoton – Bel-Aire Elementary School
• Wolfgang Roeder – fischer Tubing
• Ray Knowis – Management Consultant Services
• Kathie Parks – Motlow State Community College

Staff:

• CEO/Executive Director -  Misty Marshall, interim
• Science Director – Bill Boss
• Education Coordinator –
• Administrative Assistant – Joel Longstreth
• Gift Shop Manager – Jan Griffin
• Accountant -
• Senior Employment Maintenance – Warren Smith

A Detailed History:

In 1988, Dr. Robert Young, John Fox, Linda Purnell, Dr. Brad Windley and Bill Boss met to discuss ideas for supporting science activities in the local area, though planning of the actual facility didn’t begin until a year later. The idea of the Hands-On Science Center was presented at a Joint Society Technical meeting in November, 1990 and the AIAA provides first funding of $1200. It was during this time that the official name “Hands-On Science Center” was selected by the first official Board of Directors.

Despite not having an actual building yet, 1991 was a year of growth for HOSC. The official HOSC Logo was designed by Sherry Veazey Smith (with input from John Fox to add geometric shapes) and adopted by board. The “Visiting Wizards” program was initiated to build support and interest in the idea and John Paul West became the first official member.

By May of 1992, The Visiting Wizards program had reached 130 demonstrations in 40 schools to 4,000 children. At the suggestion of Richard Raper, a formal grant application was made to TERDA (Tennessee Elk River Development Association), in May and HOSC was awarded a $40,000 in July. The growth of HOSC continued in 1993, when Linda Purnell was appointed Director of Programs, with plans to formalize the Visiting Wizards Program and AEDC Federal Credit Union (now Ascend Federal Credit Union) and Motlow State Community College signed a formal alliance with HOSC followed by UTSI in August, 1994.

Though it wasn’t announced until April of the following year, everything changed in February of 1994, when Cleveland Pneumatic (now Goodrich Aerospace) donated 4.32 acres with which to build the new HOSC facility. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 3, 1994 and construction of the facility by H&H Construction began in July.

1995 would be the year the idea became a reality. Bill Boss reported that the Visiting Wizards program had reached 35,000 contacts through visits to schools, civic and professional gatherings and other events and HOSC joined the Association of Science and Technology Centers.

On August 19, 1995, HOSC opened to the public and quickly grew to a membership of 400, with over 3700 visitors. By June of 1996, we were celebrating our 10,000th visitor and our 5th successful summer camp. We also hosted our first Christmas Open House that December after the Tullahoma City Christmas Parade.

In 1997, we hosted our Reverse Draw and Golf Tournament fund raisers and Virginia Davis received the Eisenhower grant (ASSURED) for HOSC. 1998 saw our second Gold Tournament and a special Arts Builds Communities grant was given to HOSC for Steve Davis to paint the dinosaurs featured on the outside of our building. We received a second Arts Builds Communities grant in 1999 for Jim House to paint the mural in our lobby and the first Haunted House held at HOSC.

By our 5th year of operating we had expanded a cover over the patio area and added a 24′ by 24′ storage building and hosted the Horror Dome fund raiser at the old cement plant. In addition to our own, Cubic sponsored their first golf tournament fund-raiser for HOSC in 2000 as well. That year saw two more Arts Builds Communities grants for Chip Hayes to paint logo on dinosaur wall and Steve Davis to paint hot air balloons on outside wall.

In 2001 a spectacular black bear was killed in a Tullahoma housing area and was donated to HOSC by the Tennessee Wildlife Agency. It was mounted next to its skeleton by Chip and RJ Hayes in honor of General Lowe. In march of that same year, we won the Museum Assessment Program grant and UTSI donated the Goethert observatory and 12 in. Newtonian telescope. Both HOSC and Cubic sponsored successful golf tournament fund raisers in 2001, though the Horror Dome was canceled that year.

In August of 2002, the IMLS Museum Assessment Program survey by Jack Parry from Richmond, Virginia was completed and RJ Hayes oversaw the construction of a 6,000 ft. expansion to our building. Another Arts Builds Communities grant was given to HOSC that year for Jim House to paint a mural in the new expansion. It was in 2002 that Cubic, as well as hosting their third golf tournament fund raiser, announced a $25,000 donation pledge over five years for the Cubic Theater. We also hosted our first Casino Royale night at Lakewood Club in November of 2002.

In 2003, the X-Wing used in the Christmas Parade was restored and placed in storage until it could be sheltered at HOSC, we held our 7th Anniversary party to an attendance of over 750 and celebrated a yearly visitor total of 15,000. Lincoln Davis and his staff visited HOSC in early 2004 and Steve Davis was awarded an Arts Builds Communities Grant for a scale model of the solar system and adding dinosaurs to our refurbished main sign. We were awarded a $2,250 grant from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) and Dan and Fran Marcum for creating original plays featuring famous historical scientists and hosted (along with Tullahoma City and AEDC) Family Day for 1175th and 130th National Guard units after their return from deployment in Iraq. Also that year, RJ Hayes was given Proclamation by the Governor for his work at HOSC during his retirement party.

By 2005, we launched the Super-scientist plays funded by the Marcums and the Foundation of Middle with eight famous scientists in the series, the “By Kids, for Kids” inventors’ camp was launched, we participated in the first Dogwood Festival in Winchester, and UT Carrier donated a 10 ton HVAC system. The George Washington Carver, and Thomas Edison plays, written by Warren Gore, were presented under the 2004 -2005 CFMT grant and we were awarded another $5,000 grant from the CFMT and Dan and Fran Marcum for creating more original plays featuring famous historical scientists in 2005 – 2006.

In 2006, we were awarded another $2,500 grant from the CFMT. Leonard da Vinci and the Wright Brothers plays, written by Warren Gore, were formed and presented under this grant. We established Preschool Story Time and, along with Edward Jones and TSPE, sponsored two First Lego League teams that year and the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival donated to HOSC.

A lot has changed over the years and we hope the years to come will see as much growth and development as the years past.