Exploration Place, Wichita, Kansas

Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas provides a number of interesting exhibits for their patrons. These exhibits range from dinosaurs to whales. The museum is easy to find on the Arkansas River in the downtown section. Exploration Place is on McLean Boulevard. They are open from noon to 5pm every Sunday and Monday, 10am to 5pm Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday 10am to 8pm, and Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm. Holiday hours can vary. Pricing for the museum is based on ages with the youngest being $3, the next age group $6, and adults $8.

Exploration Place can be broken down by the type of exhibits being offered. They have traveling exhibits which stay for a few months and then move on. The newest display at the museum is called Whales. This exhibit comes from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The display allows visitors to fall into the underwater world by way of storytelling. Visitors learn about the Whale People, Whale riders, and the biology of whales. Another traveling exhibit which just opened is the Dinosaurs. In this area visitors get to walk through the primordial swamp and encounter six robotic dinosaurs.

Soon to open will be the "How to Make a Monster'' display. In this exhibit visitors learn the methods for creating movie screen monsters. Exploring Flight and Design, Exploring Our Only Home, Kids Explore, and Exploration Park and Mini Golf are other exhibits at the museum. The Exploration Park and Mini Golf offers a children's play area where they can explore the various slides. Kids Explore is a three story castle exhibit with knights, kings, and queens.

Flight constantly gains our attention. It was not that long ago when people felt flight was impossible. Now there are numerous types of airplanes and flying devices. The exhibit has a horizontal simulator that provides a flight just like the Wright Brothers had in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. A wind tunnel that simulates flight and the wind created by propellers is also at the museum. A modern flight simulator allows visitors to see what it feels like to fly in a modern contraption.

Young children are the most impressionable when it comes to new things. Recognizing this, Exploration Place has created Tot's Place for toddlers. They can engage in water play, watch bubbles, make a meal at the wooden tea house, or just play with the dozens of toys available.

For a fantastic movie visitors can head into the Cyberdome Theater as part of Exploration Place. The theater provides digital computer generated shows. The screen is sixty feet in height with surround sound. A variety of shows are offered at the theater. Chirpie's Magical Sky is best for young children who are learning about the four seasons. Chirpie's Amazing World Adventure takes visitors around the world and even scuba diving. For visitors into space there are two shows: Chirpie Loonraker and Dawn of the Space Age. Chirpie is more for children, while the second movie is about the Apollo 11 space launch.