There are currently over 95,000 museums worldwide. The world’s first museum was the Capitoline Museum established in Rome, Italy in 1471; a second museum was established in the mid-18th century. The Capitoline Museums are still welcoming visitors today. 

There are over 10,000 zoos operating around the world today. The oldest known zoo was in Hierakonpolis, Egypt approximately 5,500 years ago. The oldest zoo still in operation is the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, which opened in 1752. 

There are over 4,000 planetariums wowing audiences all over the world. The first one opened its doors to the public at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany, in 1925 and is still open today. 

There are over 3,000 science centres inspiring young minds across the world. One of the first was the Ontario Science Centre. When it opened in 1969, it was the first interactive museum in the world dedicated to science and technology education. 

There are over 1,750 awe-inspiring large-format theatres operating worldwide. The first large-format flat-screen IMAX theatre was the Cinesphere that opened in 1971 at Ontario Place in Toronto, Canada. The first of the Omnimax domed theatres (now more often called IMAX Domes) opened in 1973 at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater in San Diego, California, USA. 

There are over 200 large-scale aquariums operating in the world today. The world’s first public aquarium was the Fish House at the London Zoo that opened in May 1853. 

Each of these institutions of public knowledge uses its own unique methods to engage and inspire its visitor audience. Edutainment, audience engagement, and the overall visitor experience are affected by several factors including seating, sound, lighting, projection techniques, and different theatrical presentation styles and formats. 

Attractus will highlight the phenomenal diversity of this amazing educationally focused public attraction community and provide a platform where they can tell their larger-than-life and behind-the scenes stories. Our goal is to provide up-to-date information about how professional people and companies are helping to enhance audience engagement throughout the edutainment industry. 

What’s your story?