Exploreum Science Center

What Exploreum Science Center does

Exploreum Science Center (legal name: Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center) is a nonprofit science museum located at 65 Government Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama, operating from a historic building on the site of a 1950s police and fire station. The organization runs interactive permanent and rotating science exhibits and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Digital Dome Theater, which features state-of-the-art digital laser projectors, new seating, lighting, and sound. Its core audience comprises families, K–12 school groups, and general visitors seeking hands-on STEM experiences, supplemented by corporate and social event renters drawn to its nine downtown event spaces.

Revenue is generated through a multi-stream model: general admission tickets and dome theater showtimes, ASTC Passport membership (with reciprocal access to 300+ science centers worldwide), group bookings for parties of 14 or more, structured Academy programs (Spring, Summer, Fall/Winter sessions for ages 4–13 at $40–$190 pricing tiers), themed birthday party packages ($295–$400), and private facility rentals for corporate, educational, and social events. Distribution is conducted via walk-in traffic, an online calendar and ticketing platform (sales.exploreum.com), and direct sales outreach to schools and event planners through dedicated email channels. Marketing is primarily organic social (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram) and content marketing through the website.

The business is independently operated as a nonprofit with no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or subsidiaries. Key relationships include a flagship naming sponsorship by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians tied to the Digital Dome Theater, and network participation in the ASTC Passport Program. The organization employs 11–50 staff and operates five days per week (Tuesday through Saturday, 10am–4pm). Revenue figures, ownership structure, and financial performance are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Exploreum Science Center

Legal name

Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center

Website

https://exploreum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Exploreum Science Center is a nonprofit science museum in downtown Mobile, Alabama, operating interactive exhibits and a digital dome theater for families, K–12 school groups, and corporate event clients, funded via admissions, memberships, educational programs, birthday parties, and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum and Educational Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Interactive science exhibits
• STEM education programs
• Digital dome theater
• Museum group visits
• Birthday party venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Mobile

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Ticket sales for exhibit access and dome theater movies to general public visitors
2. Exploreum Academy Programs: Educational programs including Summer Sessions (weekly, $190 non-members/$155 members) and Spring Sessions (daily, $45 non-members/$40 members)
3. Birthday Party Packages: Theme-based birthday parties ranging from $295-$400 including party room, STEM program, admission, and themed decorations
4. Facility Rentals: Private event space rentals for corporate events, educational events, and social gatherings with customizable packages including exhibit galleries and theater access
5. Membership Program: ASTC Passport Program membership providing free or reduced admission at over 300 science centers worldwide, with member discounts on programs and parties
6. Group Sales: Reduced rates for groups of 14 or more, including customized visits, day trips, overnight stays, and coordination with local attractions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Exploreum Science Center operates an interactive science museum in downtown Mobile, Alabama featuring hands-on exhibits, the PCI Digital Dome Theater (an 8K resolution digital dome), and educational programs for school groups and the general public. The center also offers facility rentals for private events, birthday party packages, and seasonal academy programs.

Product overview

Exploreum Science Center offers a multi-faceted visitor experience centered around interactive science exhibits and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Digital Dome Theater. The core offering includes permanent and rotating special exhibits for hands-on learning, complemented by the state-of-the-art Digital Dome for immersive films. Educational programming spans Academy sessions (Spring and Summer), field trips, outreach, and overnight programs for children. Additional revenue streams include birthday party packages with STEM themes, facility rentals for events, group bookings, and ASTC Passport membership. An online calendar and purchasing platform enables ticket sales and program registration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Poarch Band of Creek Indians Digital Dome Theater: State-of-the-art digital dome theater featuring digital laser projectors, new seating, lighting, and sound system

Products and services

• Interactive Science Exhibits
• PCI Digital Dome Theater
• School Field Trips and Education Programs
• Spring and Summer Academy Sessions
• Birthday Party Packages
• Group Bookings (10+)
• Facility Rentals
• ASTC Passport Program Membership

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Poarch Band of Creek IndiansflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the naming sponsor of the Exploreum's Digital Dome Theater, which has been renamed the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Digital Dome Theater. This partnership represents a flagship sponsorship featuring state-of-the-art digital laser projectors, new seating, lighting, and sound system upgrades.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Adventure Science Center: Adventure Science Center is a Nashville-based nonprofit science center with interactive exhibits, a planetarium/dome theater, school programs, and event rentals. Comparable in scale, nonprofit structure, and multi-revenue business model (admissions, programs, parties, rentals).
• Carnegie Science Center: Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh is a mid-sized nonprofit science center with interactive exhibits, a dome/planetarium theater, summer camps, and event venue rentals. Closely comparable in operating model and audience mix to the Exploreum.
• SciTech Hands On Museum: SciTech Hands On Museum in Aurora, IL is a small-to-mid-sized nonprofit science center with interactive exhibits, school programs, and birthday parties — closely matching the Exploreum in size, programming depth, and target audience.
• Tellus Science Museum: Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, GA is a nonprofit science museum featuring interactive exhibits, a digital dome theater/planetarium, and school programs. Closely comparable in scope and Southeast U.S. positioning.
• Pacific Science Center: Pacific Science Center in Seattle operates interactive science exhibits, an IMAX/dome theater, school programs, and event rentals as a nonprofit. Similar diversified revenue model with comparable emphasis on STEM field trips and family programming.
• McWane Science Center: McWane Science Center is a hands-on science museum and IMAX theater in Birmingham, Alabama — the closest direct peer to the Exploreum in size, geographic market (Alabama), and product mix of interactive exhibits plus large-format theater. Both serve as primary field trip destinations for their respective regional K-12 markets.
• Discovery Place Science: Discovery Place Science in Charlotte, NC is a hands-on science museum with a dome theater, education programs, birthday parties, and event rentals. Operates a comparable diversified nonprofit revenue model targeting families and schools in a mid-sized Southeast metro.

Broad incumbents

• Museum of Science (Boston): Museum of Science in Boston is a flagship-tier nonprofit science museum with interactive exhibits, a planetarium/dome, school programs, and event rentals. Comparable product categories but operates at substantially larger scale and budget than the Exploreum.
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago): Museum of Science and Industry is one of the largest science museums in the world, with interactive exhibits, a dome/IMAX theater, school programs, and event rentals. Comparable in product categories but operates at materially larger scale and national reach than the Exploreum.
• California Science Center: California Science Center in Los Angeles is a large public science center with interactive exhibits, an IMAX theater, and major STEM education programming. Comparable in product breadth but materially larger and serves as an industry benchmark rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theexploreum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Exploreum
• Facebookfacebook.com/Exploreum
• Instagraminstagram.com/exploreumsciencecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exploreum-science-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Exploreum Science Center