THEN & NOW
Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future
Every gallery within The Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, Science, & History (formerly MOAS) tells a story of vision, generosity, and a shared belief in the power of art, science, and history to inspire. Then & Now celebrates those stories by reflecting on the origins of each space, the donors and community members who made them possible, and the collections that have enriched generations of visitors.
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As The Brown enters a new era, many of these spaces are evolving. They are being reimagined, relocated, or incorporated into our future campus design. While not every detail has been decided, this archive serves as both a tribute and a living record. We’ll continue updating these pages as plans unfold, ensuring that the legacy of our past remains a guiding light for what’s to come.
The 62-acre Tuscawilla Preserve is a rare Florida hydric hammock that served as an outdoor education center for The Brown. Established through early local conservation efforts, it became a cornerstone of the Museum’s commitment to environmental learning and preservation.
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Guests explored shaded boardwalks, encountered native plant and wildlife habitats, and experienced a natural landscape that offered both quiet reflection and hands-on discovery. The Preserve served as a living classroom—connecting visitors to Florida’s unique ecosystems and reinforcing the importance of conservation for future generations.
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Explore the Preserve’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
Opened in 1986, the “Arts in America: 1700–1900” gallery was the first of its kind in Florida, showcasing American art, furniture, and decorative objects from the Pilgrim era through the Victorian period. In 1989, Kenneth and Mary Dow donated their remarkable collection—hundreds of paintings, furnishings, and decorative pieces—adding depth and richness to the gallery.
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Visitors stepped into early American life through thoughtfully arranged period settings, gaining insight into the artistic and cultural traditions that shaped the nation. The gallery offered a comprehensive and immersive look at America’s evolving identity through craftsmanship, design, and fine art.
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Explore the gallery’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
Opened in 2001, the Root Family Museum featured one of the world’s largest collections of Coca-Cola memorabilia, alongside vintage race cars, train cars, quilts, and other Americana. Highlights included Florida’s largest teddy bear collection and two historic train cars—the Silver Holly and the 1948 Hiawatha.
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The Museum told the story of the Root family’s legacy in Coca-Cola bottling, offering a nostalgic look at American innovation, industry, and family life. Visitors explored a vibrant and eclectic collection that captured the spirit of entrepreneurship and the cultural moments that shaped generations.
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Explore the Museum’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
The Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum opened in 2008 as the first hands-on science center in Volusia County. This 9,300-square-foot space housed more than fifteen professionally designed interactive exhibits, created to engage children in the principles of science, engineering, and physics.
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Families explored together through play-based learning—experimenting, building, and discovering in an environment designed to spark curiosity and imagination. The Children’s Museum fostered a love of learning by making complex concepts accessible, memorable, and fun for visitors of all ages.
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Explore the Museum’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
Established in 1996, the William and Helena Schulte Gallery of Chinese Art showcased 84 objects from the Museum’s collection, accompanied by large interpretive panels exploring Chinese history and society. The gallery featured works spanning multiple dynasties, including Tang and Wei horses, Han and Ming tomb figures, Ch’ing gemstone carvings, and Ming blue-and-white porcelain.
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Visitors experienced a rich cultural journey through centuries of Chinese art and tradition, gaining insight into the symbolism, craftsmanship, and historical significance behind each piece. The gallery offered both an educational and visually striking exploration of one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations.
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Explore the gallery’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
Originally opened in August 2014 following a full relocation and digital transformation supported by ECHO and FEMA, the planetarium was later renamed the Lowell and Nancy Lohman Family Planetarium in 2019. The 94-seat facility features a 40-foot dome, immersive sound, and an OmniStar digital projection system that greatly expanded its capabilities.
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Visitors experienced dynamic star shows and full-dome films across a wide range of genres, immersing audiences in astronomy, science, and visual storytelling. The Planetarium became a cornerstone of the Museum’s educational offerings—bringing the wonders of the universe to life in a powerful and engaging way.
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Originally known as the West Wing, the L. Gale Lemerand Wing was rebuilt following flooding in 2009 and reopened on October 30, 2015, through the support of FEMA, ECHO, and Museum funding. This expansive space became home to a diverse range of collections and exhibitions.
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Over time, the wing housed the Cuban Foundation Museum, the Karshan Center of Graphic Art, the Gillespy Gallery of African artifacts, the Marzullo Gallery of global weaponry, the Prehistory of Florida Gallery, and the Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum. Together, these spaces offered visitors a wide-ranging exploration of art, culture, and history from around the world.
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The Lemerand Wing served as a dynamic hub of discovery—bringing together global perspectives and immersive experiences under one roof.
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Explore the wing’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
The Elaine and Thurman Gillespy, Jr. Gallery featured a distinctive collection of African art, including sculptures, masks, and ceremonial objects representing diverse cultures across the continent. The gallery highlighted the artistic traditions, spiritual beliefs, and social practices embedded within each piece.
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Visitors experienced a rich cultural narrative through works that reflected both everyday life and ritual significance, gaining a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship and meaning behind each object. The gallery offered an immersive and educational exploration of African heritage, emphasizing the importance of preserving and sharing these cultural expressions.
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Explore the gallery’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
The Prehistory of Florida Gallery featured an extensive collection of fossils and natural specimens that told the story of Florida’s ancient past. Exhibits included preserved insects and butterflies, shells and teeth, and the remains of prehistoric animals such as a giant ground sloth, mastodon, and glyptodont—all discovered within the region.
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Visitors journeyed through thousands of years of natural history, gaining insight into the environments, species, and geological changes that shaped Florida long before modern development. Through immersive displays and striking skeletal reconstructions, the gallery brought prehistoric life into vivid focus—connecting audiences to a time when Florida looked vastly different than it does today.
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Explore the gallery’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
The Karshan Center of Graphic Art featured a dynamic collection of works on paper, including prints, drawings, and photography from both historical and contemporary artists. The gallery highlighted the versatility and impact of graphic media, showcasing a range of techniques from traditional printmaking to modern photographic processes.
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Visitors explored rotating exhibitions that brought fresh perspectives and diverse artistic voices into the space, offering insight into the evolving role of graphic art in visual culture. The gallery served as an accessible and ever-changing environment—inviting guests to engage closely with the detail, texture, and storytelling unique to works on paper.
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Explore the gallery’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
The Cuban Foundation Museum housed one of the most significant collections of Cuban fine and folk art outside of Cuba, showcasing more than 300 years of history through over 200 objects in a bilingual, 2,000-square-foot gallery. Its mission was to offer Cuban Americans—and the broader public—a rare window into Cuba’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.
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Visitors experienced a vibrant and deeply personal narrative through paintings, sculptures, and cultural artifacts that reflected the island’s history, identity, and creative expression. The gallery served as both a cultural bridge and a place of connection, honoring the stories and traditions that shaped generations.
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Explore the museum’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
Bouchelle Gallery
The Anderson C. Bouchelle Study Center and Gallery for International Decorative Arts showcased more than 600 objects, including 18th- and 19th-century silver, gold, furniture, mirrors, and other decorative works from around the world. From the Carrera marble maiden at its entrance to the Tiffany-inspired Romeo and Juliet glass door at its rear, the gallery offered a visually rich and immersive experience.
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Visitors explored the craftsmanship, design, and cultural influences behind each piece, gaining insight into the evolution of decorative arts across time and regions. The gallery served as both a study center and exhibition space—celebrating artistry, detail, and the beauty of functional objects elevated to fine art.
Explore the gallery’s past, future vision, and the individuals whose generosity made it possible.
