JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 15-year-old Beachside High School student is doing everything she can to save a place she loves.

Himaschi Wijayawardhana, a volunteer at the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), is concerned about the museum’s plan to shut down its Southbank location by the end of August.

MOSH is heading across the river to a brand new building on the Northbank near EverBank Stadium

That building isn’t set to open until 2028, so Wijayawardhana started a petition to keep the current location open during the move.

“You’ll come across a 15-year-old explaining the significance of whale blubber or how stars are born,” Wijayawardhana remarked while sharing her experiences as a volunteer.

That chance to grow and share knowledge is what led Wijayawardhana to spend the past few years volunteering at MOSH.

Lately, she’s been focused on raising awareness about the significance of MOSH itself, especially after learning it will close its doors at the end of August in preparation for a move to the Northbank.

“I was personally heartbroken,” said Wijayawardhana. “I remember getting the news on my phone and crying in the car.”

As a 15-year-old, Wijayawardhana is spearheading the effort to keep MOSH opened longer.

She started the petition this month, and it’s already received about 1000 signatures.

“If you’re 15, if you’re 13, it doesn’t matter,” said Wijayawardhana. “You have a voice. I think that’s what this petition is amplifying.”

First Coast News reached out to MOSH about the closure and received a statement that said in part:

“Maintaining it would divert resources from our long-term vision. This closure will allow us to focus our full efforts on the funding, planning, and construction of the new Museum.”

City Councilmember Joe Carlucci, who represents the Southbank, says he can see where Wijayawardhana is coming from and appreciates her passion.

“I’ve got young kids,” said Carlucci. “I didn’t want to see it closed. I really didn’t want to see it moved off the Southbank. I can see the vision, I believe in it. They were tossing around heavily, for years, how to stay open. That was their goal, but the scales, as you weigh the pro’s and con’s were very close. It was tough decision, I know for their board.”

Wijayawardhana admits it’s a lofty goal to change the minds of MOSH leadership, but she’s grateful to see there are so many folks out there who feel the same way.

“We are very excited at the possibility of a bigger museum,” said Wijayawardhana. “We’re very excited about the possibility of a larger focus on education in Jacksonville, but I think looking so far toward the future leads them to neglect the present.”

MOSH said it has a mobile planetarium and is working on getting an outreach vehicle to use during the transition between the two locations.

It also has a community celebration planned for August 9th as a bit of a last hoorah for the Southbank location.

MOSH’s full statement on the decision to close during the move:

At MOSH, we are deeply grateful for the passion and dedication of our volunteers — past and present — who have helped shape our mission to ignite the joy of lifelong learning in science, history, and culture.

While the current location will close by September 1, 2025, MOSH will remain active in the community during the final design and construction process through a robust community outreach program. MOSH is in the process of acquiring a new outreach vehicle to facilitate community engagement and impact which will service schools, families, and partners throughout North Florida. Thanks to the generosity of funders, MOSH has purchased a state-of-the-art mobile planetarium which will enhance community-based STEAM programming experiences. We are excited to engage the community in the science and art of bringing an iconic museum to North Florida, which will include opportunities to engage with museum designers, connect with subject matter experts, and experience “sneak peeks” at new programming and exhibitions at the new Museum. Our outreach programming will continue as a core component of our education for years to come, even after the new location is open. We welcome all positive engagement in this process and look forward to the important role of the community in our work.

● Q1: Is MOSH closing permanently?

No. MOSH is transitioning from its Southbank location to a new, purpose-built facility that will better serve the community. The nonprofit organization behind the Museum will continue to operate throughout the transition. In the meantime, we will continue to offer programming through pop-ups, partnerships, and outreach.

● Q2: Why not stay in the current building?

The current facility is aging and limits our ability to deliver modern, inclusive, and accessible experiences. Maintaining it would divert resources from our long-term vision. This closure will allow us to focus our full efforts on the funding, planning, and construction of the new Museum, which is scheduled to open to the public in 2028.

● Q3: What is the fundraising campaign supporting?

The MOSH Genesis capital campaign supports the design and construction of a new museum campus and its exhibits. The funds generated by this campaign, including budget allocations from the City of Jacksonville and the State of Florida, are restricted for this purpose and cannot be used for current Museum operations.

● Q4: What’s being done to engage community voices?

We always welcome constructive input from all community members at info@themosh.org. As further details are available about our community outreach programs, we plan to share information on our website, through our email newsletter, and on social media.

• Q5: Will MOSH continue its volunteer program during the transition period? MOSH is still determining volunteer needs and opportunities during the transition period.

● Q6: How can I verify what’s true? Visit our official website at themosh.org or contact our team at info@themosh.org for accurate updates and opportunities to get involved.