Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History (MOSH) New Riverfront Campus

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Plans call for MOSH to move from its Southbank location near Friendship Fountain, which it has occupied since 1969.
Plans call for MOSH to move from its Southbank location near Friendship Fountain, which it has occupied since 1969.

The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in Jacksonville is one step closer to its visionary riverfront campus, thanks to the city’s approval of $50 million in funding.

The city committed $50 million to the project as part of its 2025-29 capital improvement plan. The city will spread the funding over three years. Also, city has also agreed to lease the site to the museum for 40 years at a dollar a year. City Council approved the first $3 million in the budget year that started Oct. 1; future funding would still need council vote authorization, but the council typically approves projects in the capital improvement plan that have funding.

 

The museum has already secured $40 million in corporate and private donations and will continue to solicit contributions.

Plans call for MOSH to move from its Southbank location near Friendship Fountain, which it has occupied since 1969, to a new $100 million-plus facility where Hogans Creek flows into the St. Johns River, across from EverBank Stadium.

Construction on new MOSH campus

MOSH expects to start construction on the site in 2025, with the new museum scheduled to open its doors in 2027. The construction timeline means workers will build the new MOSH at the same time others renovate EverBank Stadium just down the street.

MOSH Genesis

The museum announced MOSH Genesis in 2020, a plan to leave its longtime home on the Southbank and build a new facility on the downtown side of the river. CSX donated $10 million earlier this year to become the museum’s title sponsor.

“Formalizing this next phase of our partnership with the City of Jacksonville reinforces our shared commitment to seeing the new MOSH facility proceed with development,” said Al Dove, MOSH’s chief executive officer.

Dove said projections call for up to 450,000 visitors per year to the new museum once it opens. It will form part of a renovated Northbank that will include the USS Orleck warship, a Jacksonville fire museum, parkland and Shad Khan’s Shipyards West development, plus more than a billion dollars of improvements to EverBank Stadium.

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MOSH will have almost twice the space as the current facility, in a three-floor, 100,000-square-foot building.
MOSH will have almost twice the space as the current facility, in a three-floor, 100,000-square-foot building.

The new MOSH campus

MOSH will have almost twice the space as the current facility, in a three-floor, 100,000-square-foot building. Exhibits will use aspects of the St. Johns River as a navigation guide for visitors, beginning with a two-story water feature representing the 27-foot drop from the St. Johns’ headwaters in Indian River County to where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. Then guests will follow “pathways that mimic the river’s role in connecting the region” interspersed with collections and content “islands” showcasing the area’s “nature, innovation and culture,” according to MOSH.

MSH completed a conceptual exhibit plan for its proposed new campus at the Shipyards development on Jacksonville’s Northbank last year.

MOSH Genesis Project Factsheet

Project Name: MOSH Genesis

Project Overview:

Relocation of Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History (MOSH)

Moving from Southbank to a new riverfront campus on the downtown side

MOSH New Location:

Where Hogans Creek flows into the St. Johns River

Across from EverBank Stadium

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Project Timeline:

Announced: 2020

Construction Start: Expected 2025

Opening: Scheduled for 2027

Project Cost:

Total estimated cost: $100 million-plus

Funding for the new MOSH campus:

City Commitment: $50 million

Part of 2025-29 capital improvement plan

Spread over three years

First $3 million approved for budget year starting Oct. 1, 2023

Corporate and Private Donations: $40 million secured

Land Lease Agreement:

City to lease the site to MOSH for 40 years

Annual rent: $1 per year

New MOSH campus Details:

Size: 100,000 square feet

Floors: 3

Nearly double the space of current facility

Projected Annual Visitors: Up to 450,000

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Key Features:

Two-story water feature representing St. Johns River

Exhibits using river aspects as navigation guide

Collections and content “islands” showcasing local nature, innovation, and culture

Surrounding Development:

Part of renovated Northbank

Nearby attractions: USS Orleck warship, Jacksonville fire museum, parkland

Adjacent to Shad Khan’s Shipyards West development

Concurrent with EverBank Stadium renovations (over $1 billion in improvements)

Current MOSH Location:

On Southbank near Friendship Fountain

Occupied since 1969

Project Leadership:

Al Dove: MOSH Chief Executive Officer

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