The National Museum of Mathematics or MOMATH opened in New York City on Saturday Dec. 15.
The new math museum believes in the power of math and aims to enhance the public's understanding of it. Their website states, "Its dynamic exhibits and programs will stimulate inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of mathematics. The museum's activities will lead a broad and diverse audience to understand the evolving, creative, human, and aesthetic nature of mathematics."
The Associated Press reported that the museum is aimed especially at children from the ages of 8 to 13 and it has a playground feel to it. There are 40 exhibits to date with one that includes a "wall of fire" made up of laser lights and teaches children about geometry.
The museum's website states that the new museum comes in response to the closing of the Goudreau Museum on London Island which was a much smaller museum of mathematics. "A group of interested parties met in August 2008 to explore the creation of a new museum of mathematics... Led by Glen Whitney, the group quickly discovered that there was no museum of mathematics in the United States, and yet there was incredible demand for hands-on math programming," says the museum's website.
Whitney wants people to come to the museum and get excited about math. He said to ABC News, "Our target customer: You think you hate math come and see it the way we see it."
Instead of numbers, hands on experiences are encouraged in the museum. Whitney added to ABC News, "We have very few numbers in the museum."
For example in the mathaneaeum visitors can manipulate shapes such as a human tree that allows people to replicate the trunk and branches in a multiplying effect.
The museum is located on the first two floors of an office building across from Madison Square Park at 11 East 26th Street .Tickets cost $15 for adults and $9 for children. Hours are daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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