Inside Look: Bellingham SPARK Museum plans renovation, interactive gallery

Alyse Smith
·2 min read

Inside Look is a Bellingham Herald series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.

Bellingham’s SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention has launched a campaign to raise $2 million for a new, interactive gallery called the Wonderlab.

“Wonderlab will be a place that inspires creativity, activates imaginations, and fosters learning through exploration and community,” the museum’s website states.

A concept drawing for the Wonderlab gallery at SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention at 1312 Bay St., Bellingham, Wash. SPARK Museum/Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald
A concept drawing for the Wonderlab gallery at SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention at 1312 Bay St., Bellingham, Wash. SPARK Museum/Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

The museum plans to renovate 3,000 square feet of the current space by adding interactive exhibits and an elevator. They also plan to replace the roof of the historic building.

Once the Wonderlab is complete it will be the largest interactive science center between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., according to a news release from the museum.

“Full of interactive exhibits, Wonderlab will give children and families a place free from the constraints of a typical museum collection, provide them with the opportunity to let their imaginations and creativity flourish, and directly respond to community needs,” the museum’s website states.

A concept drawing for the Wonderlab gallery at SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention at 1312 Bay St., Bellingham, Wash. SPARK Museum/Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald
A concept drawing for the Wonderlab gallery at SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention at 1312 Bay St., Bellingham, Wash. SPARK Museum/Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

“With this campaign we directly invite our whole community to get involved in the future of the SPARK Museum. This space is being designed for this community, with significant opportunities for community contributions,” Abby Whatley, SPARK’s director of programs wrote in the news release.

Donations can be given online on SPARK’s website, where visitors can see how much the museum has raised so far. The museum is also hosting a fundraising gala, Ignite the Night, on Saturday, May 18. Tickets are available online and cost $100 per person.

More information will be shared by the museum as funds are raised and construction begins.

The SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 1312 Bay St. in Bellingham. General admission tickets cost $10 for adults 13 and up, $6 for children 12 and under, and are free for ages 2 and under.