May 2026
Demand continues to grow. The Imaginarium announces that it is fully booked through May, with scheduling for next fall visits opening on May 15, 2026.
April 2026
First tours of the Imaginarium for MSU students; one group of undergraduate students and one group of graduate students from College of Education.
February 2026
All 2nd-grade students (16 classes) from Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary school visit the Imaginarium.
February 2026
The Imaginarium launches its “Black Excellence in STEAM” theme for Black History Month.
November 13, 2025
Parents and staff from the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability visit the Imaginarium.
October 29, 2025
Piloting First School Field Trip. The Imaginarium hosts 50 students from Starkville Academy for a special Halloween-themed field trip. This is a great milestone to show the theme-based, guided model in action soon after opening.
October 27, 2025
Soft Opening. Mississippi State University publicly announces the center as open, describing it as a hands-on STEAM discovery center and “creative laboratory” for children in grades K–8.
September 5, 2025
The Imaginarium welcomes the Golden Triangle gifted teachers for a tour and introduction to the space. This is a strong marker of educator engagement before the broader public launch.
August 2025
- Field trip curriculum and educator guides finalized.
- Continued testing of guided activities and facilitated experiences.
July 2025
- Team completes first summer of training for facilitators and field trip guides.
- Individual waivers, policies, and creative learning materials developed.
- NSF Smart & Connected Communities grant awarded to a project related to the Imaginarium—our first major external research funding!
June 2025
- First round of mock field trips tested with volunteer families.
- Furniture begins arriving.
- Educational signage, safety protocols, and activity booklets developed.
May 28, 2025
Biggest delivery day yet! Wind Tube, Shake Table, and Creative Coding stations arrive from Science Kinetics.
May 28, 2025
Astro the RoboFox makes his debut!
May 14, 2025
First exhibit delivery—Draw Alive and ClassVR headsets.
April 2025
Exhibits Begin Arriving!
Assembly begins with the help of our graduate assistants and team members.
March 2025
Renovation completed!
The space is transformed into a vibrant, flexible learning lab for creativity and STEAM exploration.
January 2024
Facility renovations begin at the future home of the Imaginarium.
November 2023
Renovation plans for the permanent Imaginarium space approved!
September 16, 2023
Imaginarium Express exhibit at Mississippi Children’s Museum in Meridian, Mississippi