The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology

What The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology does

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology is a Smithsonian Affiliate interactive museum operating from the historic 1882 Scheidler Machine Works building at 55 S. 1st Street in downtown Newark, Ohio, where it occupies an entire city block adjacent to the Licking County courthouse square. Founded in the early 1990s by Howard LeFevre and a coalition of educators, artists, engineers, and community leaders, the museum has operated continuously for nearly 30 years as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 31-1395941). It combines a 30-foot, 4K SciDome Planetarium, a live glassblowing studio, hands-on science labs, history exhibits (including Hopewell Culture, mastodon, and aviation pioneer Jerrie Mock displays), rotating art galleries, and a pollinator/sensory courtyard garden under a single admission model. Education programs include school field trips, the WOW! Van mobile outreach, homeschool co-op workshops, summer day camps (Busy Bee, Camp Runway, Camp Space Explorers, Glass Fusing Camp), and the free GearUp program that has brought every Licking County kindergartener (6,000+ students across 28 schools over 3+ years) to the museum.

Revenue is generated through seven concurrent streams: per-visitor admission ($10 children, $14 adults, $12 seniors), annual memberships ($90-$165) that include reciprocal access to 800+ museums via ASTC, NARM, ROAM, and Time Travelers, fee-based summer camps and outreach programs, event rentals and signature fundraising galas (HATSOFF!, Cocktails by the Fire, Summer Party), an on-site Gear Shop retailing hand-blown glass, and tax-deductible donations plus corporate sponsorships from 15+ local businesses and institutions (Battelle, Boeing, Park National Bank, Denison University, Licking Memorial Health, Ohio State Newark, among others). Pricing is small-ticket and high-volume across consumer, education, and corporate segments, with reciprocal museum networks and the Smithsonian Affiliation functioning as primary differentiation levers.

Name

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology

Legal name

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology

Website

https://attheworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Works is a Smithsonian Affiliate interactive museum in Newark, Ohio, combining a 4K SciDome planetarium, glassblowing studio, and hands-on science, history, and art exhibits. It serves families, K-12 schools, homeschool groups, and corporate partners through admissions, memberships, camps, outreach, events, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interactive Museum and Educational Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAD

Science & Technology Museums

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJADAE

Children’s Museums

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJADAF

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJADAA

Art Museums

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYCRALAJAG

Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops

Consumer Products & Retail/Specialty Retail (Hobby, Books, Office, Pet, Toys)/Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Retail

SECONDARYBPAGAHAA

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

Keywords

• Interactive museum exhibits
• STEM education programs
• Glassblowing demonstrations
• Science planetarium shows
• Educational field trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Direct ticket sales to visitors for museum admission. Children (2-17) $10, Adults (18-54) $14, Seniors (55+) $12. Children under 2 free.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships providing unlimited general admission, discounts on camps/classes/Gift Shop/special events, and free/discounted admission to 800+ museums through reciprocal programs (ASTC, NARM, ROAM, Time Travelers). Membership tiers include Individual + One ($90), Grandparent ($100), Family ($125), with additional unnamed guest options up to $165.
3. Summer Camps and Programs: Day camps for ages 3-9 including Busy Bee camps ($100-$150), full-day camps like Camp Runway and Camp Space Explorers ($350-$400), and specialty Glass Fusing Camp ($175-$225). Additional programming fees for educational programs.
4. Outreach Programs: WOW! Van outreach to schools and events with classroom programs ($150/session) and mobile museum stations ($200-$950 depending on stations and hours).
5. Event Rentals and Fundraising Events: Museum rental for private events, plus signature fundraising events including Cocktails by the Fire, Summer Party (biennial), and HATSOFF! (biennial black-tie gala).
6. Donations and General Operating: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 31-1395941). Annual Fund campaign supports operating costs. Corporate sponsorships from local businesses.
7. Gift Shop / Gear Shop: Retail merchandise including hand-blown glass items, museum merchandise. Open Tues-Sat during museum hours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology operates an interactive museum that combines history, art, science, and technology exhibits with a 30-foot 4K SciDome Planetarium, a working Glass Studio with live glassblowing demonstrations, and rotating art galleries. The museum sells admissions, annual memberships, summer camps, field trips, homeschool programs, mobile WOW! Van outreach, event rentals, and a retail Gear Shop. Programming targets families, school groups, homeschool families, and corporate sponsors, supported by an Education Division and 15+ corporate partners.

Product overview

The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology is a Smithsonian Affiliate interactive museum offering a unified experience combining hands-on discovery across science labs, history exhibits, art galleries, and the SciDome Planetarium (a 30-ft, 4K fulldome theater). The Glass Studio provides live glassblowing demonstrations and hands-on glass fusing experiences. The museum operates an Education Division offering field trips, WOW! outreach programs, homeschool sessions, and summer day camps (Busy Bee, Camp Runway, Camp Space Explorers, Glass Fusing Camp). The GearUp program provides free museum visits for Licking County kindergarteners. Community programming includes STEMfest, Night @ The Museum, Film Series (America 250 Smithsonian Channel series), and special events. Membership programs offer reciprocal benefits at 800+ museums through ASTC, NARM, ROAM, Time Travelers, and CMAP partnerships. The Gear Shop retails handblown glass items. The museum was founded in the early 1990s and is located in the historic Scheidler Machine Works building (1882) in Newark, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SciDome Planetarium A 30-foot, 4K SciDome planetarium offering immersive journeys through the stars, planets, galaxies, and dinosaurs via live shows and full-dome films, available as part of museum admission and through school programs.
• Glass Studio and Hot Shop A working glassblowing studio where professional artists perform live glassblowing demonstrations and offer hands-on glass fusing Open Studio sessions where visitors create their own glass art pieces.
• History Exhibits Interactive exhibits covering Licking County history including the Hopewell Culture, mastodons, aviation pioneer Jerrie Mock, and the Land of Legend historical displays.
• Science Labs and Interactive Exhibits Hands-on science labs and interactive STEM exhibits where visitors engage with building, experimenting, and creating activities.
• Art Galleries Rotating art exhibits and galleries featuring colorful collections and thought-provoking art programs for the community.
• Nature Experience (LeFevre Courtyard Garden) The LeFevre Courtyard Garden featuring pollinator gardens, sensory gardens, sounds of nature, echo tubes, and wingspan measurement.
• Field Trips Customizable school field trip experiences with educational programs aligned to Ohio Learning Standards, including classroom and assembly styles for up to 200 students.
• WOW! Outreach Mobile Museum Mobile outreach program bringing The Works experiences to schools and community events off-site, including classroom programs for up to 30 students (30-45 min, $150/session) and STEAM Spots mobile exhibit stations ($200-$950 depending on stations and hours).
• Homeschool and Co-Op Group Programs Year-round homeschool day workshops with themes including science of glass, polymers, simple machines, and space, plus discounted admission and add-on programming for homeschool groups.
• Summer Day Camps Day camps for ages 3-9 including Busy Bee camps (Space, Mad Scientists), Camp Runway (fashion design for ages 7-9), Camp Space Explorers, and Glass Fusing Camp (ages 9-12).
• STEM Events (STEMfest) STEM-focused events including STEMfest! (annual family event since 2009), STEMfest Student Competition (Grades 3-12), STEM Over Lunch, and Girls STEAM Ahead conference.
• Fundraising Events Signature fundraising events including Cocktails by the Fire (glass programming celebration), Summer Party (biennial garden party), and HATSOFF! (biennial black-tie gala).
• GearUp Program Free program ensuring every kindergartener in Licking County visits The Works, including 2 hours of museum exploration and a SciDome Planetarium show; has served 6,000+ students across 28 schools over 3+ years.
• Museum Membership Annual membership levels (Individual + One $90, Grandparent $100, Family $125) with options for unnamed guests, providing unlimited admission, discounts on camps, classes, gift shop, and special events, plus free/discounted admission to 800+ museums through reciprocal networks.
• Gear Shop Retail shop selling handblown glass items crafted in the Glass Studio hot shop and museum-branded merchandise, open Tuesday-Saturday during museum hours.
• Community Events Community programming including Summer Fun Days, Night @ The Museum (themed family nights), Dozers & Diggers, and Holiday Homecoming.
• America 250 Film Series America 250 Smithsonian Channel Film Series featuring documentaries including America's Secret Space Heroes: Space Shuttle, She The People: Votes For Women, The Day We Walked on the Moon, and The Green Book: Guide to Freedom.
• CMAP Reciprocal Membership Benefits Reciprocal membership program offering exclusive benefits at participating Central Ohio attractions including Columbus Zoo, Dawes Arboretum, Franklin Park Conservatory, Ohio History Connection, Wexner Center for the Arts, and National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
• Museum Rental for Private Events Museum rental available for private events including corporate gatherings, weddings, and private parties.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ArielminorOthersCorporate sponsor listed among 15+ local businesses supporting The Works' mission and operations through financial sponsorships.
• Central Ohio Technical CollegeminorOthersEducational institution partner providing support as corporate sponsor.
• Denison UniversityminorOthersEducational institution partner providing support as corporate sponsor.
• Energy CooperativeminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting The Works' community mission.
• Explore Licking CountyminorOthersLocal tourism organization partner and corporate sponsor.
• First Federal SavingsminorOthersFinancial institution corporate sponsor.
• The Granville Investment GroupminorOthersInvestment firm corporate sponsor.
• Heath-Newark-Licking County Port AuthorityminorOthersGovernment/development authority corporate sponsor.
• Licking Memorial Health SystemsminorOthersHealthcare system corporate sponsor supporting community health through museum sponsorship.
• Newark Moose Lodge #499minorOthersFraternal organization corporate sponsor.
• Mortellaro McDonald'sminorOthersLocal McDonald's franchise corporate sponsor.
• The Ohio State University at NewarkminorOthersUniversity campus partner and corporate sponsor with potential for educational collaborations.
• Truck OneminorOthersTransportation/logistics company corporate sponsor.
• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Works is a Smithsonian Affiliate Institution, providing access to exhibits, educational resources, and programming from the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. This affiliation elevates the museum's offerings and credibility.
• BattellecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMade possible the How People Make Things traveling exhibit. Battelle's support enables hands-on manufacturing education experiences for visitors.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored the How People Make Things traveling exhibit with Battelle, bringing factory tour-inspired experiences to The Works.
• Continental Building Co.minorOthersEvent Partner for Dozers & Diggers community event.
• Duchess Convenience StoresminorOthersEvent sponsor for Dozers & Diggers community event.
• Columbia GasminorOthersEvent sponsor for Dozers & Diggers community event.
• Claypool ElectricminorOthersEvent sponsor for Dozers & Diggers community event.
• Columbus Zoo and AquariumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCMAP partner offering $4 off general admission to The Works members and 10% shop discount during CMAP Week (June 22-28).
• The Dawes ArboretumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCMAP partner offering $4 off general admission and 10% shop discount during CMAP Week. Located near Newark, Ohio.
• Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical GardenscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCMAP partner offering $4 off general admission and 10% discount at cafe and gift shop during CMAP Week.
• Ohio History Connection & Ohio VillagecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCMAP partner offering $4 off general admission and 10% discount at History Store during CMAP Week.
• Wexner Center for the ArtscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCMAP partner offering $2 off film tickets and 30% off at the Wex Store during CMAP Week.
• National Veterans Memorial and MuseumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCMAP partner offering $4 off general admission and 20% off at museum gift shop during CMAP Week.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Great Lakes Science Center: Cleveland-based science center with NASA-affiliated exhibits, OMNIMAX theater, and STEM education programming; similar combination of planetarium-style theater, hands-on STEM, and school field trip focus.
• Museum of Science and Technology (MOST): Syracuse, NY hands-on science and technology museum with planetarium, IMAX, and STEM education programs; comparable scale and programming mix to The Works.
• Boonshoft Museum of Discovery: Dayton, Ohio science and children's museum with interactive STEM exhibits, planetarium, and education programs; directly comparable regional science museum serving school groups and families.
• COSI (Center of Science and Industry): Columbus-based science center that is the primary regional STEM competitor to The Works; both offer hands-on science, planetarium, and educational programming for families and school groups in central Ohio.

Regional players

• The Dawes Arboretum: Central Ohio nature preserve and CMAP reciprocal partner of The Works; comparable local cultural attraction serving families and school groups within the same Newark-area catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati Museum Center: Multi-disciplinary museum complex in Cincinnati offering history, science, and children's museum experiences at significantly larger scale; comparable in multi-discipline breadth and educational mission.
• The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation: Dearborn, Michigan museum combining American history with technology and manufacturing innovation; highly comparable to The Works' history + technology positioning and Smithsonian affiliations.
• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh science center with planetarium, hands-on exhibits, and STEM education at larger scale; structurally comparable multi-disciplinary science museum with reciprocal ASTC membership.
• Children's Museum Indianapolis: Largest children's museum in the world; relevant broad incumbent for children's programming, family memberships, and reciprocal ASTC membership positioning.

Emerging players

• Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts: Harrisburg, PA facility combining science center and performing arts; comparable multi-discipline structure combining history, art, science, and STEM education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-works_2

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology