Decatur’s Cook Museum of Natural Science will receive $9.5 million in funding to serve as a catalyst for expansion of STEM labs and educational programming spaces, the museum announced Monday.

The appropriation from the state’s education budget comes with the designation, from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, of the museum as the North Alabama STEM Center.

“Alabama’s future depends on our ability to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, and STEM education is key to that effort,” Ivey said. “This significant state investment reflects the outstanding work the Cook Museum of Natural Science has accomplished in STEM education. This expansion will undoubtedly strengthen educational opportunities for students and support workforce development in one of the state’s fastest-growing regions.”

Cook Museum Executive Director Scott Mayo said the museum will begin developing extensive plans to expand the capacity for STEM-based, interactive learning labs and educational curriculum for school classes.

The Cook Museum provides classes and camps with hands-on learning experiences, aligned with the Alabama Course of Study. The Museum serves public, private, and homeschool students from 21 Alabama counties, totaling over 18,000 students annually on field trips with over 7,000 participating in classes and camps.

“This investment is to enable increased access and programming for students in the North Alabama region,” Mayo said. “Gov. Ivey’s commitment to inspiring and preparing the state’s STEM workforce of the future aligns with the mission of the Cook Museum, and we look forward to serving our North Alabama students in an increased scope and capacity.”

“Four of the fastest growing school districts are in North Alabama, and we continue to attract and grow STEM-related workforce opportunities,” added State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. “The Cook Museum is in the heart of the region and is already doing an excellent job serving our educators and school systems as a resource, particularly for our elementary students.”

Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling said he is excited to see Cook Museum’s contributions to the region’s STEM education be recognized.

“The City of Decatur is honored to have the Cook Museum of Natural Science in our downtown, and we’re thrilled to see it receive this well-deserved STEM Center designation with strong support from our great State,” Bowling said. “This designation enhances Decatur’s reputation as a city that values education, innovation, and the future of our children. Decatur is excited to see the Cook Museum continue to serve and inspire our dynamic and expanding region.”

The Cook Museum’s roots can be traced back to 1968 when John Cook Sr. opened his professional insect collection to the public by appointment. At the time, it had been used primarily for employee training at Cook’s Pest Control, but it later grew to include a wide array of mounted wildlife.

In 1980, additional collections of rocks, minerals, fossils, coral, seashells, mounted wildlife, and federally protected migratory birds were acquired, and a 5,000-square-foot building was constructed to house Cook’s Natural Science Museum. From its opening in 1980 until its closing in 2016, the museum welcomed more than 750,000 visitors.

The new Cook Museum of Natural Science opened as a 62,000-square-foot facility in 2019 with additional wildlife exhibits and aquariums that feature live animals and educational hands-on educational experiences for visitors.