The National Weather Museum and Science Center in Norman plans to replace their current space with a new site in the proposed location for the city’s entertainment district at University North Park.
According to the museum's press release, the new site will be called the Weather Experience and will address storm preparedness, effects and history as well as other STEM elements for an interactive experience, strengthening the museum’s mission of teaching STEM and weather safety concepts.
Kevin Kloesel, director of Oklahoma Climatological Survey and university meteorologist for OU Office of Emergency Preparedness, said Norman has been on the weather map within the meteorology community since "forever."
“Putting Norman on the weather map for the nation, and from an entertainment and education standpoint, is really going to be something that Norman and the entire state of Oklahoma will be proud of,” Kloesel said.
The site will also feature research aircraft and flight simulators that teach weather in aviation, as well as weather-related entertainment rides, according to a press release.
The National Weather Museum and Science Center, the only museum dedicated to weather in the United States, collaborated with the Norman Economic Development Coalition and commissioned a feasibility study, which found a high level of viability for the site at University North Park.
“For Norman and for the state, this is something that would really allow us to take what we do at the National Weather Center and truly make it something that would be a destination,” Kloesel said.
According to the release, the site’s new exhibits, cafe, lecture halls and outdoor common space would pave the way for visitors to connect as a community.
This article was edited by Taylor Jones and Peggy Dodd. Nikkie Aisha copy edited this article.
