What's going on at SPARK?
Changing a lightbulb is considered one of the easiest do-it-yourself tasks anyone can perform in their home. A job so simple, so user-friendly, there are even bad jokes about people and groups screwing-it up. Here are a few examples of this timeless, sophisticated humor: Question: How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: One, but the …
Today, billions of people from all over the world enjoy listening to recorded music. People almost everywhere have access to a mind-boggling variety of recorded sound—instantaneously delivered via computer or cell phone, right in our hands, our ears, our heads. With tons of music right at our fingertips, it’s easy to make music a welcome part of our everyday life—a …
If you lived in this country, just over one hundred years ago, and you wanted musical entertainment in your home, you were pretty much screwed. Unless you could master a musical instrument, your options were severely limited: You could crank-up a music box, or pump-up a player piano, or wind-up a gramophone—or, if you lived in the greater Pittsburgh area, …
Today, the Spark Museum is enjoyed by thousands of visitors of all ages, from all walks of life, from all over the world—and we’ve learned they all want the same thing. Everyone wants to have a fun experience with science. At SPARK, we think that is a great place to start. Our goal has always been to get everyone excited …
From the very beginning, the Museum’s founders wanted to create a major attraction, something that would draw people from all over the world. “We always dreamed of having a signature demonstration, something people couldn’t experience anywhere else,” says John Jenkins, president, CEO & co-founder. “Something grand and dramatic, like the Eiffel Tower, or Old Faithful—just indoors.” On September 13, 2012, …
Of all the classic radios, record players and music boxes displayed in our beloved museum, nothing seems to delight folks quite like the sight and sound of our 1936, WURLITZER Simplex Multi-Selector coin-operated phonograph—more commonly known as, a jukebox. This mechanical marvel invites guests to smile, sway, even swing to the sounds of Tony Bennett, Frankie Lane, and other classic …
The first thing you learn in typing class is where to place your fingers on the keys. The “home row” is located in the middle of the keyboard, and it shouldn’t take but a hot second to realize these keys are not going to be very popular. Virtually every word in the English language uses a vowel, yet there is …
Hello Lovers, everywhere! Valentine’s Day is almost upon us – a favorite time to celebrate love, affection and the people we feel most passionate about. Whether you’re in a long-term, committed relationship, or just going out on a first date, Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to connect with your partner, lover, main squeeze. The question is: What are you …
Anyone who grew up in the 1950s and 60s will tell you that having a transistor radio was nothing short of liberating. They were light, cheap and went anywhere. When compared to the radios of the past they were positively tiny. Measuring inches instead of feet, weighing ounces instead of pounds, made of plastic instead of wood. Much like cell …
Nothing says Christmas like a pyramid shaped evergreen tree, tapered to a point, topped with a star, and filled with tiny lights that flash like stars embedded in the night sky. The tradition of using lights to celebrate cultural and religious holidays can be traced back thousands of years to a variety of ancient civilizations, well before the time of …
