Amazement Square

Amazement Square is dedicated to motivating children and adults of all backgrounds and abilities toward greater creativity and understanding of themselves and the world through hands-on learning. The museum's exhibits and educational programs encourage all participants to explore the arts and humanities, culture, science, technology and their interdisciplinary relationships. -- Mission Statement, Approved by the Board of Directors, 1998.The idea for the museum was conceived in 1992, when the Junior League of Lynchburg formed a committee to determine whether there was a need for such a museum in the area. The community's enthusiastic response led to the creation of Amazement Square, which was incorporated in 1993. Generous community-wide support propelled the project forward, and in 1997 the museum's founding (and current) Executive Director was brought on board.
To better inform its community about the learning advantages of a hands-on museum, even before the physical structure of the museum was completed, Amazement Square began offering various outreach programs for elementary and middle schools, as well as an annual Cultural Festival for the general public starting in 1998. The museum opened its doors to the public in 2001 in a newly renovated 29,000 square-foot warehouse building that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the museum has eight hands-on, multidisciplinary exhibition galleries and an array of complementary programming that makes learning fun and accessible to all.
Since its inception, the museum has been committed to ensuring everyone is able to benefit from its unique learning environment and programs. As a reflection of this philosophy, Amazement Square offers many ongoing outreach programs that target various underserved constituencies. These programs include, but are not limited to, a career mentoring program for underprivileged inner-city children, a school preparedness program for members of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynchburg, an educational partnership program that serves the needs of students with severe physical and mental disabilities, and a Sponsored Admissions Program that has served over 45,000 youth. The museum also offers special discounted school tours to schools that have 50% or more students in the federal lunch plan program.