The Jewel On The Hill: The Science Museum Of Long Island Thrives Programs connect children with the environment

BY AMANDA OLSEN aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

Begun as a response to the Soviet space race and situated on the grounds of a historic mansion, the Science Museum of Long Island is bridging the gap between bedrock science principals and modern learning practices, with an eye towards climate solutions and sustainability.

In 1962, a local resident named Doris Leonard, alarmed at the success of Sputnik and worried about the level of science education children were receiving, put an ad in the paper that read: “Anyone interested in organizing a Hands-On Science Museum in Long Island is invited to come to the home of DORIS LEONARD.” Twenty educators and like-minded residents joined her, and they became the driving force behind establishing the North Shore Junior Science Museum, the institution known today as the Science Museum of Long Island. The following year the North Shore Junior Science Museum was chartered by the

Board of Regents of the state of New York. While activities were offered at varying locations throughout the next 10 years, it soon became apparent that the museum needed a permanent home. This culminated in a private-public partnership with Nassau County to use the building and grounds of the former Herman Goldman estate. This site, located within the Leeds Pond Preserve, has been the home of the SMLI since 1973.

The preserve, which includes Leeds Pond, is named after Warner M. Leeds, who owned the pond from 1906 until his death in 1925. The 36-acre historic property encompassed see SCIENCE MUSEUM on page 4B