Page 34 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2018

LMDC timeline
THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES
BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP...
To capture Lynn Meadows Discovery Center’s entire history, we travel back to 1967 when a little place called the Porthole lit the way.
The committee joins the Association of Children’s Museums and begins the process of
developing a budget and
timeframe. Concordia
Architects, Inc. is
hired, along with Jules
Babineaux of Exhibits, Inc. The committee meets frequently, fundraises and spreads the message of their mission.
The Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport opened the Porthole, also known as the “teen center,” with donations from the citizens of Gulfport.
1967
1969
Hurricane Camille destroys the Porthole, and Junior Auxiliary receives $28,000 in insurance money, which will eventually be the seed money for Lynn Meadows Discovery
Center.
JA of Gulfport
identifies art education
as a glaring need
of the community
and opens the Lynn
Meadows Center for
the Arts at Handsboro
Community Center.
The center is named
for JA member Carole
Lynn Meadows’ daughter who passed away just two weeks before the meeting to name the center. It operates for six years and shows the need for a larger space and program.
1992
Following the expansion of the committee, creation of the Board
of Trustees and hiring of project coordinator and future Executive Director Betsy Grant in 1995, construction plans are finalized and H. Gordon Myrick, Inc. is hired as contractor. The local architecture firm is Guild Hardy.
1996
1994
Gulfport School District School Board approves the lease on the old Mississippi City School, built in 1915. Fundraising continues and 501c3 status is achieved with over $500,000 in gifts and pledges.
Seabee volunteers work on the treehouses designed by Master treehouse builder Peter Nelson.
1985
1991
Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport President Rose Alman calls the first meeting
of what will become the children’s museum committee and donates $50,000 from the Porthole insurance
and interest as seed money.
1998
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center opens on May
16, 1998 thanks to the tremendous support of the community. Original exhibits include Health Wanted; Calling All Stars;
Friends, founders and fellow JA members Rose Alman (L) and Carole Lynn Meadows. Above, Lynn Meadows.
This special section is brought to you by our presenting sponsors
34 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2018 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net