Extra Ordinary

Our brand new Extra Ordinary Gallery is now open to the public. The gallery has been made possible with a grant from its sponsors; the Millennium Commission.

Extra Ordinary explores the technologies and inventions that have shaped our every day lives and then asks the visitor to vote for what they think is the most important and influential.

The gallery starts with a message about what life would be like without technology and shows the visitor how much we rely on it. It then goes on to show a timeline of the most important inventions in history. There are over twenty interactive exhibits demonstrates a different technology and explains what it is used for.

Contenders include: computers, electro-magnetism, wireless communication, energy control, engine combustion and robotics.  Amongst the activities on offer, visitors will be able to lift up a car, try beating a robot, generate electricity and programme a computer. At the end of the route guests will be asked to post their favourite device alongside other visitors’ choices at the voting station.

Judith Donovan CBE, Millennium Commissioner said "The Millennium Commission is proud to have supported Snibston with £452,837 of Lottery grants.  

Snibston is a wonderful attraction that provides a real hands-on experience for its visitors.  It is vital that it remains cutting edge in order to make science appealing and accessible for everyone.  That is why we supported the Extra Ordinary exhibition with a grant from our ReDiscover science centre renewal programme. Exhibits such as these bring science alive.  They enable people to find out how science affects us and the possibilities it has for us in our everyday lives.  Extra Ordinary will bring out the scientist in everyone, and undoubtedly inspire our scientists of the future."

The gallery has been designed and built by Machine Shop Exhibitions Limited, and Richard Glassborow Associates.