The IDEA Place is a hands-on science museum that was approved by the Louisiana Board of Regents in 1991 as part of a science and technology education center (SciTEC) that was being developed at that time. The Idea Place opened its doors on April 23, 1994 with approximately 500 in attendance. Since that time, over 40,000 K-12 students have visited the IDEA Place from across north Louisiana and south Arkansas. Attendance has grown each year with last year’s attendance approaching the 10,000 mark.

What began as an abandoned gymnasium in Woodard Hall, was transformed into a wonderland of childhood educational exploration. Initial funding for the project came from private donations and a great deal of community support. In addition to a small grant from the Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees held a five-ring circus and donated the proceeds to the IDEA Place. Their efforts resulted in the carpeting of the floor in the facility. Later, Toyota USA awarded a grant in the amount of 65,000 dollars with which the Starlab Planetarium, computers and other exhibits were purchased. Toyota also arranged for the use of a van for one year, which was used to take various exhibits directly to area schools. The program, "Ideas on Wheels," offered area students hands-on math and science activities and was a great success.

The museum continues to grow as new exhibits are added. In 1999, the Trailblazer Rural Development Institute awarded us a grant to construct a recycling exhibit as a part of the North Louisiana Recycling Project. The exhibit was constructed using as much recycled material as possible including carpet made from coke bottles and lumber made out of plastic shopping bags. As part of the project that year, a thirty-minute presentation was made to over 1,000 area sixth-graders about recycling. The presentation included a short video that a local television station helped us to produce and a papermaking activity. This activity actually involved students recycling old newspapers into new paper. In addition, a recycling curriculum guide was developed, printed and distributed to all sixth grade teachers in the five-parish target area.

Thanks to a gift from McDonald's Restaurants, we were able have a 250-gallon saltwater aquarium (dubbed the McQuarium) set up in the IDEA Place. One year after the saltwater aquarium was installed, McDonald’s also provided a freshwater aquarium for the IDEA Place

A 1926 model Autocar truck that was donated to the University back in 1972 dominates the center of the museum. The truck was used for several years in parades and university events and was then retired to a surplus property warehouse. We were able to convince the University to allow us to display the truck in the IDEA Place. As an added bonus, an antique calliope stands in the bed of the truck and has been restored to operating condition. Children can climb stairs into the back of the truck and play the calliope as they try to determine how it works.

Again with funds provided by the Trailblazer Rural Development Institute, two new exhibits were added to the IDEA Place last year. First, an anti-litter exhibit was installed and presentations were made to area K-5 students encouraging them to participate in Governor Foster’s Kid Pledge Program. In addition, our first outdoor exhibit, Bayou IDEA, was constructed. This exhibit features a working model of the Sparta Aquifer and presents information about water conservation.

All of the exhibits in the IDEA Place fit into one of five broad categories; Weather, Electricity, Progression of Life, Sound and Waves, and Mechanics. Each category has its own area in the museum and related exhibits are grouped accordingly. Through a major collaborative effort, the IDEA Place secured The Experiment Gallery in 2001, adding nearly 40 new physical science exhibits to serve the needs of all K-12 students.

In 1999, the Ruston-Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau awarded us a $10,000 grant to help publicize the facility. This money allowed us to produce new full-color brochures for the IDEA Place. In addition, it will helped pay for new signs for the front of the building, signs placed on the Interstate, and directional road signs that will aid travelers in finding the IDEA Place. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development toured our facility and designated it a local attraction. This designation allowed the DOTD to include IDEA Place signage on the blue attraction signs on I-20 at the Tech exit. Three additional road signs have been placed along Tech Drive and Hergot Streets that will bring visitors directly to our parking lot. During its years of operation, the IDEA Place has enjoyed an excellent association with the local media. Several television and newspaper stories have featured the IDEA Place and the programs associated with it. The chart below depicts IDEA Place visitors by parish.