Exhibits

Seven galleries.
One afternoon.

One traveling gallery and seven permanent ones. Tap any of them to see what your kid actually does in there.

An eighth gallery is being built right now →
Owensboro Rotary PlayZeum
AGES 10 & UNDER

Owensboro Rotary PlayZeum

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An indoor playground where children ages 10 and under play in a colorful, themed environment based on local landscape and history.

Sponsored and constructed by the Owensboro Rotary Club, it opened in November 2005 to record crowds. Expect to lose an hour here — most families do. Strollers park at the entrance.
The Coal Mine Gallery
WALK-THROUGH

The Coal Mine Gallery

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Don your “hard hat” and take a journey into history — The Rudy Mine, a re-created Daviess County pony-mine.

The Rudy Mine ran from the late 19th century until 1954. It's dim and narrow — thrilling for a six-year-old, occasionally too much for a toddler. There's a way out at both ends.
Encounter hands-on gallery
HANDS-ON

Encounter

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Our “hands-on, minds-on” gallery — a true “edutainment” experience for the young and the young-at-heart.

Make a magnet bridge, tell a story in the puppet theater, experiment with the Bernoulli Effect, or leave a “permanent” image in our shadow room. This is where the nine-year-olds stop complaining.
SpeedZeum motorsports gallery
RACE CARS

SpeedZeum

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Motorsports, local racing history, and the racing athletes who hail from Owensboro and the surrounding area.

Cars at eye level, no ropes to duck under. A short stop that reliably buys you ten quiet minutes.
Ford Government Gallery
FOR OLDER KIDS

Ford Government Gallery

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Founded by U.S. Senator Wendell Hampton Ford, dedicated to engaging citizens of all ages in the governmental process.

Visitors can learn about Senator Ford's long career in local, state, and national government while learning about our dynamic, participatory form of governance.
Also permanent

Origins Natural History & the Impact 100 Cave

Fossils, minerals, and a cave to walk through. Columbo's home turf.

First People of Yellow Banks

This stretch of the Ohio River long before Owensboro had a name.

Plus one traveling gallery, which changes through the year.
In construction

River Heritage History Gallery

An eighth permanent gallery on the Ohio River and the town it built. Under construction now.

Plan a visit while we build
PHOTO SLOT
River Heritage construction progress
or a concept rendering
landscape, min 1600px wide