Page 72 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2016

GIVING BACK inspiring
story by Lynn Lofton
photos courtesy of Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center opened in 1998
as Mississippi’s first children’s museum with a mission
to inspire children, families and communities through interactive educational experiences and exploration. Located in the renovated Mississippi City Elementary School, constructed in 1915 and an architectural exhibition itself, the Discovery Center offers 15,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space, six acres of outdoor play space, a spacious theatre, Viking kitchen and other great facilities for community use.
The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center continues to grow bigger and better each year. The WINGS Performing Arts and Education Center opened in 2009, providing another outlet for creativity. In September 2011, the Discovery Center was the recipient of a $1.2 million CIAP grant which allowed for acquisition of property south of the existing museum that will be protected and used as an outdoor environmental classroom.
In 2016, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center for Children won the prestigious National Medal award, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries by the Institute of Museum and Library Services in recognition of exceptional service to the community and for making a difference in the
lives of individuals, families, and communities. “The shouts and giggles we hear every day are
confirmation enough for us, but it sure doesn’t hurt
to hear that we have been selected in recognition of exceptional service to our community,” said Cindy DeFrances, executive director of Lynn Meadows Discovery Center for Children. “Our visitors know that we offer an experience like no other children’s museum in Mississippi or along the Coast. At the center, a child can participate in activities as varied as spotting a lion from a safari jeep in Africa to climbing into a tree house in the oaks.”
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
246 Dolan Ave., Gulfport 228.897.6039 www.lmdc.org
72 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2016
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