SCIENCE CENTER OF PINELLAS COUNTY

The Science Center of Pinellas County was founded in 1953 by William Guild, a retired realtor from Massachusetts with a passion for natural science. He and other local naturalists created an informal group who held monthly meetings to explore various topics in science. Soon, they began making presentations at local schools. These demonstrations grew in popularity and by 1963, a committee had been created to fundraise for a permanent location. After raising $150,000, the Science Center opened March 5, 1966. Operating for more than a half-century, it hosted over 250,000 students. It included Tampa Bay’s first computer lab that was accessible to schoolchildren; a planetarium and telescope maintained by the St. Petersburg Astronomy Club; a life-sized replica of a 16th-century Tocobaga village; and a zoo featuring a wide variety of animals, including the beloved Hamlette the Pig. Students took classes in science, technology, engineering, and mechanical disciplines at the Center, taught by local educators and funded by community donors. The Science Center closed its doors in 2014, but its motto endures: “Science is Fun. See it – Touch it – Do it Yourself!”