History
The Science Center of Pinellas County is a non-profit organization founded in St. Petersburg in 1959 by William Guild and Nell Rodgers Croley. It was the first science center of its kind, and it operates on donations and grants. Its mission is to inspire interest in and understand of all sciences.
In 1966 the present main building was completed. During the 1960s and early 70s, the center offered after-school and weekend classes for students in grades 6–12 in such subjects as biology, chemistry, electronics and astronautics. Today about 22,000 children visit the building each school year during field trips. The Science Center frequently works with Pinellas County schools, and all summer camp classes and science camps taught at the Science Center meet FCAT guidelines. In 1961 the Cooperative Classroom Extension Program (CEP) began. Science Center teachers are now able to bring animals from the Science Center to nursing homes and preschools for education or therapy.
In 2007, the Science Center extended visiting hours and it is now open to the public year-round Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.
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