Exploreum Named Alabama Attraction of the Year

Aug 15th, 2008

The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center was named 2008 Attraction of the Year by the Alabama Tourism Department. Gov. Bob Riley presented this prestigious award to Exploreum executive director Michael W. Sullivan Tuesday evening at the state Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover.

“It is a great honor to be named Alabama’s 2008 Attraction of the Year. As a non-profit organization, we are committed to giving back to our community, from the local level to the state level,” Sullivan said. “By hosting exciting, thought-provoking experiences that attract visitors from all over the world, we strive to make an impact within Alabama’s tourism, economic and education sectors.”

The Exploreum is repeatedly one of Alabama’s most-visited attractions and has become known for bringing international blockbuster exhibits to the state. In the past year, it hosted two blockbuster exhibitions – A Day in Pompeii and OUR BODY: The Universe Within. Launched in Mobile and currently traveling the world, A Day in Pompeii attracted more than 134,790 visitors. More than 68 percent or 91,000 of those traveled from outside the metropolitan area. Combined with an estimated economic impact of more than $8.7 million dollars, this event was one of the state’s largest tourism and economic events of the year.

The Exploreum also showcased the exhibit OUR BODY: The Universe Within which was seen by 105,287 visitors representing all 50 states and 24 countries. OUR BODY’s estimated economic impact on the local economy: $6.4 million.

According to Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel statistics, the Exploreum is the most visited attraction in the leading tourism area of the state – Mobile and Baldwin counties. Exploreum attendance in 2007 was 268,704.

The awards were first presented in 1998 and honor outstanding achievements in the state’s tourism industry. Each award winner is recognized as a key player in making tourism a strong economic force. Tourism contributed $9.3 billion to Alabama’s economy in 2007 and supported 170,000 jobs statewide. An estimated 22.4 million people visited the state last year.

The Exploreum has earned a regional reputation for educating and entertaining visitors of all ages and has been voted the #1 family attraction by the people of south Alabama for six straight years. The facility continues to educate and entertain audiences while boosting Alabama’s tourism presence and economic footprint. The facility will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2008.

The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center is a not-for-profit, community-owned organization created to promote science education along the Gulf Coast. Located in downtown historic Mobile, the Exploreum is the No. 1 attraction in south Alabama, and the seventh most visited attraction in the state. In addition to traveling exhibits and changing IMAX films, the Exploreum provides visitors hands-on science adventures in five permanent galleries: Minds On Hall, Hands On Hall, Wharf of Wonder, Virtual Journeys Digital Theater and the Ciba Lab – and soon, My BodyWorks, a permanent gallery devoted to human health.

For more information about the Exploreum, please visit www.exploreum.com.