American Museum Of Science And Energy

What American Museum Of Science And Energy does

The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) science museum founded in 1949 and located at 115 E Main St, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Originally named the American Museum of Atomic Energy, it operates as a cultural and educational institution that tells the story of advances in science and engineering in Oak Ridge since the Manhattan Project era. Its core offerings include interactive science exhibits, bus tours, educational programs (including a Summer Science Camp), the K-25 History Center (a wholly-owned subsidiary focused on the Manhattan Project uranium enrichment site), and broadcast media properties including the AMSE Science Report on WUOT 91.9FM and the STEM of History and AMSEcast podcast series. The museum serves general public visitors, families, K-12 students, and history enthusiasts from the East Tennessee region and beyond.

AMSE generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model spanning admissions and ticket sales (via FareHarbor), annual memberships, charitable donations and planned giving, merchandise sales through the Discovery Shop (items priced $3.50-$44.99), facility rentals, and grants from organizations including Humanities Tennessee and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Its go-to-market is event-driven, relying on physical location visits, online ticket sales, annual galas, summer camps, and community outreach. Distribution channels include on-site visits, e-commerce, regional radio broadcast, and global podcast distribution. The organization operates with a small staff (11-50 employees) under Executive Director Alan Lowe, who brings prior leadership experience from multiple presidential libraries and cultural institutions.

The museum holds no proprietary technology stack beyond standard third-party platforms (FareHarbor, Jotform, Libsyn, podpage.com). Its competitive position rests on its unique location at the historic Manhattan Project site, 75+ years of brand recognition, and an extensive content library related to atomic energy and Oak Ridge history. Partnerships with Humanities Tennessee, NEH, and WUOT 91.9FM provide funding and media distribution, while the 2025 SHARP Award from Humanities Tennessee recognized the STEM of History podcast's educational contribution.

Name

American Museum Of Science And Energy

Legal name

American Museum of Science and Energy

Website

https://amse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Museum of Science and Energy is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) science museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, founded in 1949. It operates interactive exhibits, educational programs, the K-25 History Center, and podcast series, serving general public visitors, K-12 students, and history enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum and STEAM Education

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

Keywords

• Science museum exhibits
• STEAM education programs
• Historical museum tours
• Museum membership programs
• Interactive science center

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Ridge

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission and Ticket Sales: Visitors purchase tickets for museum admission. Regular hours are Monday-Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sundays 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
2. Museum Memberships: Annual memberships provide unlimited visits and member benefits to supporters of the museum.
3. Donations and Planned Giving: The AMSE Foundation accepts charitable donations and planned giving contributions to support STEM education programs and museum operations.
4. Merchandise Sales: The Discovery Shop sells science-themed merchandise including books, gifts, and educational items ranging from $3.50 to $44.99.
5. Facility Rental: The museum offers facility rental services for events and gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) operates an interactive science museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee that presents exhibits on atomic energy, the Manhattan Project, and general science topics. It runs STEAM educational programs including a Summer Science Camp, museum bus tours, and operates the K-25 History Center. Ancillary offerings include a retail Discovery Shop, museum memberships, facility rentals, and educational podcasts (STEM of History and AMSE Science Report).

Product overview

The American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) is a science museum and educational institution in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The museum offers a unified portfolio of interactive exhibits focused on science and the Manhattan Project legacy, complemented by educational programs including a Summer Science Camp, the STEM of History Podcast, and the AMSE Science Report radio series on WUOT 91.9FM. The Discovery Shop retails science-themed merchandise including books (The Making of the Atomic Bomb, Code Girls, The Force), drinkware (Beards of Science Mega Mug, Coffee Chemistry Flask), and jewelry (Tennessee Bracelet). The museum also operates the K-25 History Center and accepts donations through the Homer D. Adkins Science Scholarship Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEM of History: A podcast produced by the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation examining the intersection of science with history
• AMSE Science Report
• AMSEcast

Products and services

• American Museum of Science and Energy Museum Interactive science museum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee with exhibits telling the story of advances in science and engineering since the Manhattan Project. Open Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM and Sundays 1PM-5PM.
• Summer Science Camp Annual summer camp program for children focusing on STEAM disciplines including physical and life sciences, chemistry of food processing, solar panels, earth sciences, nuclear energy, and AI, with hands-on activities and guest speakers.
• STEM of History Podcast Podcast produced by AMSE Foundation examining the intersection of science with history, featuring interviews with scientists, engineers, and science policy experts. Funded by Humanities Tennessee.
• AMSE Science Report Science radio series broadcast on WUOT 91.9FM featuring interviews and discussions with scientists, engineers, and science policy experts. Available via AMSEcast podcast platform.
• K-25 History Center Museum dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of the K-25 site, where the Manhattan Project's uranium enrichment operations took place during World War II.
• Discovery Shop Museum gift shop offering science-themed merchandise including books, drinkware, jewelry, and educational items priced from $3.50 to $44.99.
• ORAU Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity Bus Tour Guided bus tour operated by AMSE to the ORAU Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity, offering visitors a curated Oak Ridge science-heritage experience.
• Facility Rental Venue rental service for events and gatherings at the AMSE facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• AMSE Museum Membership Annual membership program providing unlimited museum visits and member benefits, available through the AMSE Foundation.
• Homer D. Adkins Science Scholarship Fund Scholarship donation program accepting tiered contributions ($5–$500) to support science education through the AMSE Foundation.
• Energy & Elements Gala Annual fundraising gala supporting STEAM education outreach programs in the Tennessee Valley region, hosted by the AMSE Foundation.

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LIS Technologies Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 March 2026LIS Technologies Inc. sponsored the 4th Annual Energy & Elements Gala hosted by the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation on March 20, 2026, supporting STEAM education outreach programs in the Tennessee Valley region.
• Humanities TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding support from Humanities Tennessee for the STEM of History podcast series, which examines the intersection of science with history and is produced by the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation.
• WUOT 91.9FMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the University of Tennessee's public radio station WUOT 91.9FM to broadcast the AMSE Science Report weekly during Weekend Edition, reaching regional audiences with science education content.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National WWII Museum: A history museum anchored to a WWII American narrative (Manhattan Project, codebreaking, special ops) and operating with similar exhibit + education + retail + events revenue model. Comparable in tying programming to military/STEM heritage themes.
• The Franklin Institute: A Philadelphia-based, mid-sized interactive science museum combining STEAM exhibits, an IMAX theater, and educational programming for schools and families. Closely comparable in operating model, scale, and K–12 outreach focus.
• Tellus Science Museum: A regional science museum in the southeastern U.S. (Cartersville, GA) with exhibits, school field trips, and a comparable mid-size operating footprint. Same deliver model and audience mix as AMSE.
• National Museum of Nuclear Science & History: The most directly comparable peer — a science museum in Albuquerque similarly focused on atomic, nuclear, and Manhattan Project history, drawing on DOE heritage. Same niche subject, comparable scale, and overlapping mission.
• Science Museum of Virginia: A state-level science museum with interactive exhibits, educational programming, and live demonstrations — directly comparable in mission, audience, and exhibit-style delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Museum of Science, Boston: A large multi-purpose science museum combining exhibits, live demonstrations, IMAX, school programming, and a robust digital presence. Comparable in STEAM programming and multi-channel reach, but at substantially greater scale.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: A flagship national science/technology museum with much larger scale but overlapping themes of technology heritage, interactive exhibits, and education programming. Sets the upper-tier benchmark for science museum operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/amse.org
• Xx.com/amseonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-museum-of-science-and-energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about American Museum Of Science And Energy