Established 2000 President Cathy Bonner Phone +1 202-293-4505 Public transit access Fair Park | Dissolved October 31, 2011 Closed 31 October 2011 Founded 2000 | |
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Location Fair Park, Dallas, Texas Address 3800 Parry Ave, Dallas, TX 75226, USA Similar African American Museum, Hall of State, Women's Museum İstanbul, Museum of the American, Children's Aquarium at Fair Park | ||
The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future was a museum located inside Fair Park in Dallas, Texas (USA), covering the subject of American women's history. The Women's Museum's 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m2) building provided a home for programs and exhibits where people could honor the past and explore the contributions of women throughout history.
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The idea of the museum was originally conceived by Cathy Bonner in 1996. Wendy Evans Joseph was chosen to be the design architect. She was previously senior designer for the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.. Exhibition design by Whirlwind Creative. The museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, opened September 29, 2000.
The mission of the Women's Museum was to inspire, educate, and stimulate their audience through the exploration of the successes, experiences, contributions and potential of women.
On October 5, 2011, the museum announced it would close on October 31, 2011 due to lack of funds.
History
This building was built in 1910 by C.D. Hill, which served as Fair Park first coliseum building. It was used for livestock auctions by day and musical theater performances by night. In 1936 this building was renovated and used as an administrative building for the Texas Centennial Expectations. The building was then used to complement the Art Deco facilities and they even added new art deco facade on the south face of the building.
“The Spirit of the Centennial” is a 15-foot-tall statue that depicts a young woman rising from a cactus. This symbol refers to the Texas Centennial Exposition. By the early 1990s, the building was in total disrepair and unsafe.
However, it wasn’t until the founder, Cathy Bonner, came to Dallas in 1996 where friends at Fair Park introduced her to the building. The women coming out of the cactus at the front was all it took to know that this would be the home of the Women’s Museum.
The Ronya Kozmetsky Institute for the Future
"Technology is a great friend to women. It will allow women to change the way we do business and raise our children in the next century." Ronya Kozmetsky
The Institute for the Future offers hands-on computer-based programs in a fun and interesting environment. A fast-paced, specialized curriculum provides math, science and computer technology skills. The Museum's professional team works with well-trained volunteer mentors to create and deliver a broad range of creative and enriching programs. The Institute is a living laboratory for research of learning strategies and teaching techniques. In addition to activities in the computer lab, educational offerings include lectures, films, tours and teacher and school programs.
Under the Institute for the Future, the Women's Museum will offer a series of programs, workshops, and enrichment activities designed to help adolescent girls from 11-17 develop and sustain a strong sense of self. All programs have been created to help our participants: