Khan’s donation to aid museum move to Northbank

Khan’s donation to aid museum move to Northbank
A rendering of what the new Museum of Science and History might look like if it were built on the Shipyard’s property.

With a little help from a $5 million donation courtesy of Jaguars owner Shad Khan and his family, the Museum of Science and History has launched its new fundraising campaign to assist in funding the museum’s move to the Northbank.

MOSH Genesis is the new name for the $20 million capital campaign launched last year as MOSH 2.0.

In October, MOSH announced plans to build a new museum on the Shipyards property, where Khan is proposing to build a multi-use development.

Khan described MOSH’s plans as “a spectacular addition to downtown Jacksonville.”

“The best downtown districts in the United States include urban parkland and cultural destinations, and we can have that here in Jacksonville with the Museum of Science and History anchoring a new riverfront park,” Khan said. 

“I’m hoping my contribution to the capital campaign will spark additional commitment from throughout the region so we can get started on a new downtown. I am confident it will, because I know I’m not the only person in Jax who believes it’s time to finally meet and even exceed our potential.”

Earlier this year, MOSH received an undisclosed gift from the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Foundation, a $2.5 million pledge from VyStar Credit Union, and $500,000 from PNC Bank.

MOSH CEO Bruce Fafard said the board of trustees had originally planned to renovate and expand the existing museum on the Southbank. 

“But there were a lot of things we wouldn’t be able to do, and the donors were lukewarm to renovating here,” Fafard said.

The board had a committee look at the options, including a marketing study.

“It became obvious that the Northbank, especially the Shipyards, was a very viable solution and the board voted to move in that direction,” he said.

Fafard said the board likes the Shipyards because it is close to the city’s Sports and Entertainment District. 

“I can see visitors coming for several hours, having lunch on the lawn and going to see a baseball game,” he said. 

Fafard said he hopes to have chosen an architect by next summer so that the project can enter the design phase.

But the exact location of the museum remains uncertain.

The Shipyards, a 45-acre site between Metropolitan Park and Berkman II, is owned by the city. 

The Downtown Investment Authority has asked the National Park Service if the Shipyards property can be swapped as public park space for Metropolitan Park. The city is prohibited from selling the 24-acre Metropolitan Park property as part of a 1981 federal grant. If the Park Service agrees to the swap, part of the Shipyards could be developed by Khan or another developer.

Another complication is that because the Shipyards was formerly an industrial site it is a brownfield, environmentally contaminated, and would have to be cleaned up under state and federal guidelines.

“We are working closely with DIA. The exact location won’t be determined until we get a response back from the National Park Service,” Fafard said. “Regardless of the decision, there will be a location and space at the Shipyards for us.”

Fafard said the new Northbank location will allow the museum to pursue a “bolder vision.”

“We’re going to be 80 next year. If you look at our history, we’ve always been able to make bold moves.”

The museum was founded in 1941 as the Jacksonville Children’s Museum in Riverside. It moved to the Southbank in 1969 and changed its name to the Museum of Arts and Sciences in 1977.

In 1988, it changed its name to the Museum of Science and History as part of an expansion that included the Alexander Brest Planetarium. It was renovated and expanded again in 1994.

“This is another bold move. We will stay true to our mission to inspire the joy of lifelong learning by bringing to life the sciences and regional history. This will allow us to start with a clean palette. We can design the museum to be more adaptable and create interactive and experiential exhibits,” he said.

By Lilla Ross
Resident community News

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