Florida Southern Reopens Wright Planetarium
Florida Southern Planetarium reopens Sept. 26 with public shows, new projection technology, and programs for students and visitors.
By Academic Writing Club Newsroom
Florida Southern College will reopen its restored Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Planetarium to the public on Sept. 26, following more than two decades without active public use. Shows will run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. The 60- to 90-minute experience includes an introduction to the historic space and a featured program. Tickets cost $20 per person, or $15 per person for families and groups of four or more.
Public Shows Return
Six programs will rotate monthly: Cosmic Adventure; Destination Mars: The New Frontier; From Earth to the Universe; God, Science, and Our Search for Meaning; Oasis in Space; and Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Sun. The programs run for about 20 to 32 minutes and cover the solar system, Mars exploration, exoplanets and humanity’s understanding of the universe.
The Planetarium is inside the Polk Science Building and is the only planetarium constructed from a design by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is one of 13 Wright-designed structures at Florida Southern.
Dr. Jeremy P. Martin, president of Florida Southern College, said:
“Florida Southern has long been entrusted with preserving Frank Lloyd Wright's extraordinary vision for this campus, and reopening the Planetarium allows us to bring an important piece of that vision back to life. This restoration honors the history of this remarkable space while creating new opportunities for our students, visitors and the broader community to experience it in a meaningful way.”
New Technology Supports Teaching
The reopening completes a multiphase restoration supported by State of Florida funding, federal Save America’s Treasures funding, private funding and private donors. The latest phase installed a COSM projection system and Bowen sound system.
The newly restored Frank Lloyd Wright designed Planetarium at Florida Southern College.
The Planetarium will support Florida Southern students and faculty, as well as school field trips, community organizations and other groups. The space was constructed between 1954 and 1958, and its first show was held on April 7, 1960. Its projection system stopped functioning in 2004.
Tory King, director of Tourism Operations & Visitor Experience at Florida Southern College, said:
“Reopening the Planetarium allows us to bring an important part of Florida Southern's history back to life while creating new opportunities for our students and the community. The architectural restoration brought the space back, and the new technology now allows us to return it to active educational and public use.”
Access for Students and Visitors
The restored Planetarium will serve students and faculty while offering public shows and group visits. Tickets, schedules and additional information are available online.
