By: Trent Josleyn, Crown Point High School

Nash Henry, Bloomington High School North

Will Tallackson, LaPorte High School

WonderLab: How One of Bloomington’s Most Unique Local Attractions Keeps Growing 

In the heart of the bustling college downtown of Bloomington lies one of the most popular destinations, a science-based children’s museum that stands out from the rest. 

WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology is one of the only places in the state where visitors can find an aquarium, beehive, bearded dragons, and a water table all in the same building. 

Established in 1998 and located in an empty storefront in the Wicks building by the Courthouse, WonderLab continues to thrive in bigger form decades later. The current facility on Fourth Street opened to the general public in 2003 with around 1,000 people visiting on opening day. 

WonderLab has held over 1.5 million visitors in their facility since then, not including additional outreach such as school field trips and camps.  Museum Experience Director Ella Heckman, who joined the staff in 2016, had previously visited the old location as a child growing up. 

“It was just a lot smaller then. It was so small that school field trips took up the whole place,” Heckman said.

Heckman emphasized the important factor of the hands-on experience by visitors that separates WonderLab apart. 

“I think that because we are offering this hands-on approach with all of our exhibits we can sort of dispel any myths about science. Anything can be really fun when you get to experience it up-close,” she said. 

Despite huge setbacks such as the pandemic wreaking havoc on local businesses, WonderLab has overcome obstacles.

 “As soon as things shut down, we had to change everything. That’s when we got our piano exhibit, which is feet-only. It’s been quite a challenge to grow from that but I think we have done it strongly over the past five years,” Heckman said.

WonderLab has become a one-of-a-kind business in this area, allowing families to connect with their children through hands-on learning. 

“We often have families tell us that it’s so great because they trust the safety and don’t have to be constantly worried about their kids getting lost. The kids kind of unlock areas or new exhibits as they grow,” Museum Experience Manager Ollie McDermott-Sipe said.

McDermott-Sipe also leads science activities through the birthday party program with themed parties full of decorations and gifts, making science come alive. 

 “I really get to see the awesome a-ha moments where they get to pour that final reactant in and just watch the reaction happen, it’s really rewarding,” she said. 

Parties host at most 40 people; however, with Sunday morning rentals taking up the entire museum, the facility can sometimes hold up to 100 visitors at a time. Additionally, WonderLab provides learning opportunities for people outside of Bloomington.

“Something that people don’t realize that WonderLab does is the big outreach program. We actually have some staff members that will go to libraries and schools in other counties bringing WonderLab to them,” McDermott-Sipe said. 

WonderLab also hosts numerous camps and weekly sessions over the summer. Different age groups tailor to specific topics in the general field of STEM. Some of the camps are held at other venues, local nature preserves, and farms including Hilltop Garden & Nature Center as well as Loesch Farm. 

WonderLab offers multiple membership packages for one or two years for different age groups. For an individual over 18, it costs $50 a year for admission to the facility and admission to other science centers nationally. A membership is also offered for free admission for first-time parents and their child up to 18 months.

With many different kinds of exhibits from aquatic-life topics to a bed of nails to the notable grapevine climber, there is something in the museum for everyone at all ages. 

Nine-year-old Daisy, who was visiting for the first time, enjoyed every single minute. 

 “I love it, it’s very fun. My favorite exhibit so far is the climbing one. I don’t think I’ve been to a place like this before,” she said.

With almost no comparison in the nearby areas, the thriving local business  boasts dozens of awards such as the ‘Top 25 Science Center in the United States’ and the ‘Extraordinary Volunteer Program of the Year.’