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Tourism, Arts & Culture INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT › 74 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2017 White said the challenge of operating this historic treasure is to keep it relevant and contemporary. e ompson Exhibi- tion Building, which opened in the fall of 2016, does all that and more. e rolling roof of the building, which resembles a curling wave and is constructed from laminated tim- ber to suggest the hull of a wooden ship, sets the scene for movement and vitality. Its maiden exhibit, Sea Change, tells the stories of the people behind the display pieces, such as the sea captain who had his infant's crib fashioned from a green sea turtle shell or how designs were painted on World War I ships to confuse enemy submarines. Mystic Seaport is a great place to soak up knowledge that cannot be found in his- tory books. It has grown from six boats and some carved figureheads, when it was estab- lished in 1929, to a vibrant and interactive experience, featuring more than 2 million artifacts. Visitors learn about commercial fishing, navigation, and exploration. Connecticut Science Center Family adventures abound in Connecti- cut. ey can ride the Essex Steam Train, visit Mystic Aquarium, and sit in the cockpit of a vintage airplane at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks. Kids also love the Connecticut Science Center with its hands-on exhibits. "e Science Center's purpose," said President and CEO Matt Fleury, "is to create an exciting enough experience that it will draw children and families to share an enter- taining and educational fantasy experience. We tend to showcase interesting science achievements and phenomena to reveal to people that there is science all around us." e new attention-grabbing Science Alley is a 10-story experience that dominates the building's 184-foot-tall atrium with a definite connection to things Connecticut. e more than 20-feet high Tyrannosaurus Rex is a link to Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. "at jet engine," said Fleury during a tour of the facility, "is being put together right down the road by Pratt & Whitney." A tornado, a giant sperm whale, and the Hubble Telescope are among the other at- tractions in Science Alley, which greets kids at the escalators with watery effects and the sounds of falls, porpoises and the simulation of deep-sea exploration. Open since 2009, the center serves about 300,000 people on site and 25,000 in outreach each year. "We have a major presence at schools around the state to train teachers to help them teach, particularly the STEM fields," he said. e center depends heavily on generous supporters and donors, but contributes more than $16 million each year to the state's economy. Butterfly Encounter will open this summer in a tropical greenhouse that took several months to build. "It will be a magical experience in a climate-controlled environment with plants and trees," Fleury said. With good jobs emerging locally in the aerospace, defense and biotech industries, Fleury said the center's mission is to steer young people into the sciences. The Spa at Norwich Inn Aside from family-friendly offerings and historic artifacts, Connecticut also offers plenty of places to relax. e Spa at Norwich Inn is one such place — hidden within historic country surroundings. "is place is special," says General Manager John O'Shaughnessy. "e con- nections that we have made with our guests are extraordinary, and they have helped us define what wellness means." Couples go there for a getaway, girl- friends plan annual reunions, individual travelers recharge, and college roommates finally play that round of golf they have been looking forward to for years. O'Shaughnessy attributes the spa's successes to, "treatments that change seasonally, local foods prepared with care, wine choices that are memorable, all in a historic place that is hidden behind the hedges in Norwich." e amenities include 37 treatment rooms, a fitness center, indoor pool, relax- ation room, sauna, steam room, hot tub and salon. Even the most harried traveler will be The Connecticut Science Center, located in downtown Hartford along the Connecticut River, integrates learning with play for all ages. > Continued from page 71 ' There is history and authenticity to this place. ' — Stephen White, preSident of MyStic Seaport PHOTO/CT SCIENCE CENTER