The Museum of Science and Natural History spread its welcome mat on September 25, 1960. Miamians stared open-mouthed and wide-eyed at exhibits like the 14-foot Kodiak bear; a giant globe in the lobby (originally built for Pan American Airlines); Seminole and Tequesta Indians scenes; and a planetarium. The museum, originally conceived in 1949 by The Junior League of Miami, was housed in crowded headquarters on North Bayshore Dr. It later moved to a location on the Vizcaya grounds on South Miami Avenue. The Space Transit Planetarium, a half-sphere 90 feet in diameter, was the largest of its kind when it opened in November 1966. Programs such as “Are we alone?” explored the possibility of life elsewhere in space. “A journey to the Moon,” simulated the takeoff from Cape Kennedy, with movies and sound effects. In 1991, the museum went through a $5 million renovation to expand its exhibition space and add new facilities. After five decades, the Science museum closed at its Vizcaya location on August 2015.  The institution relocated to downtown Miami in 2016.

Buy photos in the Herald store

4/22/1972, Albert Coya/Miami Herald: Scott Wade holds jar with snake as Craing Blum and Billy Kirchhoff watch.

4/22/1972, Albert Coya/Miami Herald: Mrs. Pat Ritt with Jason Goldberg and Craig Blum.

9/29/1967: Museum of Science classes.

9/3/1960, John Walther/Miami Herald: Classroom at the Museum of Science.

9/11/1960, Doug Kennedy/Miami Herald: Gregg Blue at the Museum of Science.

10/7/1959, Doug Kennedy/Miami Herald: Museum Lifting Curtain On Science at Classes. Barry Magrill and Timothy Giffard Learn to Use Microscope at museum of Science and Natural History class.

7/26/1961, Ken Krato/Miami Herald: Florida flora is cut from plastic by members of the Guild of the Museum of Science and Natural History. The foliage, together with birds native to Florida, will decorate the first wildlife showcase of its kind in the state. The display, to be in the main building of the Museum, 3280 S. Miami Ave., will open to the public in time for the first Anniversary of the new Museum building Sept. 24. The women combined the leaf cutting session with their regular summer meeting time.

7/16/1976, Janet and Rock Leventhal from Museum of Science with 4th - 9th graders launching Rockets.

4/5/1977, Viani Navarrete/Miami Herald: Museum of Science Classes, Leaf Studying

1/20/1962, George Wheeler/Miami Herald: Lee Cheneau, 13, Michael Wander,11, and Harry H. Goebel of NY in chemistry class.

7/1/1966, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald: Small group from Calusa Park at Key Biscayne Museum of science.

5/31/1979, Susan Greenwood/Miami Herald: Denise Clark, 8, gets a charge from the Van-de-Graaff generator which produces static electricity causing her hair to rise. This is all part of the Discovery class offered at Museum of Science.

9/21/1961, Jim Forney/Miami Herald: Museum Of Science And Natural History.

10/4/1959: Sketch of Museum of Science and Natural History .... 11 golden spikes to launch $342,000 project. Museum Rites are set for today.

9/3/1960, John Walther/Miami Herald: Lobby, Museum of Science and Natural History.

7/1/1966, Bill Kuenzel/Miami Herald: Gustavo Ovares at the Museum of Science.

Undated, George Wheeler/Miami Herald: Microscopy Class. Mrs. Richard Lancer, Wayne Lancer,11, and Jim Stevens, 11.

11/14/1972, Albert Coya/Miami Herald: Mrs. James Mr. Gene Spellman Museum of Science.

10/3/1975, Joe Elbert/Miami Herald: Mrs. Howard M. Post (Jeanne), Mrs. William P. Albaugn (Sally) and Theoaore papers (Cal).

10/7/1989, Candance Barbot/Miami Herald: Triceratops dinosaur.

2/25/1994, Candance Barbot/Miami Herald: Status of Sloth that stands at the u.s.1 entrance to the Miami Science Museum and Planetarium Parking Lot. East side of Highway.

1971: Museum of Science.

10/20/1974: Dr. and Mrs. Albert Ehlert.

11/7/1962, Albert Coya/Miami Herald Staff: Fish at the Museum of Science and Natural History get the once over from Carol Tullis, Mrs. Everett Clay, Dena Clay, Sandra Railsback, Peggy Zeeman and Pam Johnson. Teens Work for Museum

10/21/1972, Jim Birmingham/Miami Herald: Heidi Nickel, Joyee Radford and Bev Hayes.

10/30/1959, John Walther/Miami Herald: It won't circle the earth, but this plastic, flower-trimmed "satellite" will "orbit" the Everglades Roof Monday, Nov. 2, during 'Fashions for the Future' Luncheon show featuring clothes by Don Loper. It is the first benefit planned by the Patrons Committee of the Museum of Science and Natural History. Mrs. Arthur S. Clark Jr., left, is in charge of reservations. Mrs. George B. Storer Jr. heads the decorations committee.

7/8/1959, Bob East/Miami Herald: Model of New Museum Intrigues Committee Members .... Mrs. W.O. Mehrten, Mrs Perry Nichols, Mrs. Sydney Weintraub and Mrs. Philip Ammindown.

Copyright © © The Miami Herald, 1960 [Front;Pan American Airlines] 2/1/1960: Keith Sheldon/Miami Herald Staff -- Uncaptioned photo. A workman jockeys giant globe, presumably the one from the Pan American Airways System terminal at Dinner Key. This photo was filed under "Pan Am Airways" but unknown whether the shot shows the globe being removed from Dinner Key or newly installed at the new Miami Science Museum building opened in 1960.

1/2/1966, John Walther/Miami Herald: They are taking these bowed frames and putting them in a place at the Museum of Science and Natural History on South Miami Ave. to make a planetarium. They are going to cover them and put a telescope inside that will sweep the heavens to find gas explosions on the stars and pockmarks on the face of the moon.

12/24/1966, John Walther/Miami Herald: Roof Among the Stars. Workers put finishing touches on the Museum of Science and Natural History planetarium roof. The building will open to the public in the early part of September. The only building of its kind in the world, it can let its 344 viewers see starts through a simulated space flight. It also will show hos stars would look from the surface of other planets in our solar system.

Buy photos in the Herald store