Bad To the Bone

At the beginning of the 20th Century, a lot of promises were made about how science and technology would improve the quality of our daily lives. And for most of us, science has delivered on its promise to create a better world, with smarter medicine, safer transportation, lightning-fast communication and, of course, a perfectly fitting pair of shoes. Huh? Yep, …

The Speeds of Sound

One of the best things about living in today’s world is having so much access to so much music. Whether streaming music on Spotify, purchasing songs on iTunes, or enjoying music videos on YouTube, your favorite music is accessible and available like never before. Frankly, for many of us, we can no longer imagine existing without the ability to carry …

Anybody Out There?

“Those who have been saved, have been saved through one man, Mr. Marconi… and his marvelous invention” – Herbert Samuel, Postmaster General Today, whether for business or pleasure, millions of people travel billions of miles more quickly and safely than ever before. Folks are covering vast distances that were unimaginable just a few hundred years ago. The Atlantic Ocean is …

Now, More Than Ever

It’s always humbling when we stop and reflect on the amazing people who have made a lasting impact on our beloved museum. Some of those people were there from the start, when SPARK was just a big building, a fantastic collection, and a dream we wanted to bring to life. People like Bob Foote. Robert “Bob” Foote (December 4, 1914 …

Eggheads

Of all the terrific artifacts and demonstrations featured at the SPARK Museum, we think the most clever is the recreation of Nikola Tesla’s famous Egg of Columbus display, featured in SPARK’s War of the Currents exhibit. The egg was inspired by the Italian explorer and guy who bumped into the New World four times and refused to acknowledge it, Christopher …

Born To Nip

It’s always surprising what visitors—especially kids—find memorable about their experience at the SPARK Museum. For some, it’s seeing the rare artifacts and original devices. For others, it’s the hair-raising demonstrations, and interactive galleries. (We defy anyone to forget seeing Elvis, the singing Tesla coil, as it blasts-out a familiar melody via 4 foot bolts of synthesized lightning. You can’t unsee …

From Accident to Aliens

By Hannah Durland Picture this: You’re watching an old sci-fi movie. The scene opens with a slow pan over an alien landscape. Nothing has happened yet, but the heroes still walk forward with apprehension. Everyone is waiting for the break in the tension, for something to happen. Then, a strange high-pitched sound is played, announcing the arrival of the alien …

Stairway to Halloween Heaven

It’s that time of year again when the air gets cooler and the nights get longer. It’s the spooky season coming our way, and no getting around it. The fact is Halloween would be a lot less spooky if not for some of the fantastic electrical devices on display at the SPARK Museum. Just going through the “A list” of …

Illuminating a Nation

Whenever folks are asked to think of something useful that uses electricity, the lightbulb is almost always an immediate response. You remember, those round little bulbs with the wires inside—those little ships-in-a-bottle—that can burn the prints right off your fingertips? To put it simply, we think the lightbulb is the greatest electrical appliance ever created, and with good reason. It …