The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) announced on April 6 that the Neviaser Foundation has donated $1 million to the MOSH Genesis capital campaign.
The gift will be honored through the naming of the small traveling exhibition space, which would host a rotating schedule of exhibitions at the museum’s proposed new facility on the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville.
For Nancy Neviaser Baker and her husband, Robert Baker, supporting the museum’s relocation campaign as a family honors cherished memories made at MOSH when their daughter Jennifer was young — and paves the way for future generations to enjoy similar experiences on a larger scale.
“The Neviaser Foundation is extremely excited to join many others in the MOSH Genesis campaign to make the museum a beacon on the Northbank and a continuing fixture of our community,” said Nancy Neviaser Baker. “My family and our foundation are proud to continue our history of supporting children and families in Northeast Florida, and we think this opportunity to get behind MOSH Genesis is fantastic. We encourage everyone in Northeast Florida to join us to support this effort.”
MOSH has operated in its current location on the Southbank of Downtown Jacksonville since 1969. The museum’s operations have outgrown the 77,000-square-foot facility. Building a new museum will significantly expand the organization’s capacity to serve more students and visitors. Plans for the new museum comprise approximately 100,000 square feet across three floors, with the option to build a future expansion of an additional 30,000 square feet.
The Downtown Investment Authority Board approved the allocation of 2.5 acres of land for the MOSH building and 4.7 acres of surrounding public and partnered communal space in December 2022. Legislation for the disposition and development of the property, ground lease of the land, design of the park and the Riverwalk and other agreements are currently under review by the Jacksonville City Council.
“The Neviaser family’s experiences at MOSH symbolize what makes a museum like ours so important to the community, and we are honored to have their support as we plan for the future,” said Bruce Fafard, CEO of MOSH. “This generous donation will help us bring more complex, modern exhibits to Northeast Florida. It’s an honor to welcome the Neviaser Foundation as our naming rights partner for one of our exhibition spaces planned for the new museum.”
