History
In 1984, the Portside Festival Marketplace shopping mall opened along the Maumee River, on the site of the former Tiedtke's department store, with the hope of revitalizing downtown Toledo. In 1990, the marketplace closed, leaving a vacant 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) modern facility. A committee, appointed by the mayor, was charged with finding the best use for the site. Researching options, committee members heard repeatedly the need for an educational family attraction. As a result, COSI Columbus was approached regarding the development of a similar institution in Toledo. Together, a structure was developed making COSI Toledo an independent, not-for-profit organization with a board of trustees from Northwest Ohio, while taking advantage of the experience and resources of COSI Columbus.
A major fundraising campaign raised $9.5 million dollars, surpassing the original goal by $4.5 million dollars. Additionally, the state supported the project with $10 million dollars. Another major step in establishing COSI Toledo was the transfer of the facility to COSI at a value of $16 million dollars. On 1 March 1997, COSI opened its doors to the public. The facility attracted an average of 250,000 visitors per year, and over 2.5 million since opening.
In 2005, COSI won a National Award for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s highest honor for extraordinary public service by a museum or library. The award was presented by Laura Bush at a White House ceremony in January 2006.
On July 28, 2006, COSI Toledo and COSI Columbus legally split so each could focus on their own financial troubles. Later that year, Berrien Springs Public Schools awarded a 2006 Teachers' Choice Awards to COSI for its distance learning program. After voters voted down a second levy in November 2007, COSI Toledo closed due to lack of funding on December 31, 2007.
On November 4, 2008, Lucas County voters approved an operating levy for the science center enabling the facility to reopen in the Fall of 2009.
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A Rube Goldbergian–style machine in the main lobby that creates music via user-dropped billiard balls.
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The Toledo Harbor Lighthouse's original Fresnel lens on display.
Read more about this topic: Imagination Station
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