The Health Adventure, founded in 1968, proudly celebrates its 40th year as Asheville’s trusted family health and science attraction. Located in downtown Asheville in Pack Place, The Health Adventure features two levels of hands-on exhibits, a changing exhibits gallery with top-notch and blockbuster traveling exhibits, and enriching programs that seek to improve health awareness, promote wellness lifestyles, and increase science literacy.

The Health Adventure sparks imagination and encourages learning for all ages. Curiosity, creativity, and the capacity for individual discovery and strengthened community connections are hallmark benefits of our programs and exhibits.

 

Download our 2006-2007 Annual Report

Learn more about our rich history! Founded in 1968 by the Buncombe County Medical Society Auxiliary – also known as our Founding Mothers – The Health Adventure was one of the first health education centers of its kind in the country. The museum gained national and international recognition for its excellence in health and science education, featuring a hands-on, interactive approach that utilizes dynamic exhibits and programs to teach school and community groups.

The Health Adventure’s innovative approach to health and science education has won the minds – and hearts – of generations from Asheville and the region. People who visited the museum as children now bring their own families, and others have joined The Health Adventure family as volunteers, staff members, supporters and treasured friends.

The museum’s first location was a small storage room at Memorial Mission Hospital, and its primary focus at that time was to reduce children’s fear of hospital settings. As its programs grew, the facility moved to an abandoned gymnasium at the hospital only to expand again four years later to a log cabin on site.

In 1978, the museum relocated to a larger space in the Mountain Area Health Education Center – quite a leap for an organization staffed by volunteers. Richard Rush Studios of Chicago created hands-on exhibits to fit the museum’s design and mission and the first paid executive director was hired.

The museum grew steadily and moved into the Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center in 1992. The new site provided a 300 percent increase in teaching and exhibit space and was open for walk-in visits by the public. Programs were expanded and science exhibits were developed to encourage adults, families and tourists to explore self-instructional exhibits. Workshops, lectures, traveling exhibits and special events were also created to complement the museum’s exhibits.

Today, as a regional health and science education center, The Health Adventure is dedicated to improving health and science literacy among children and adults. A broad mosaic of programs includes topics such as peer pressure, substance abuse, mathematics, physics, human sexuality, AIDS, nutrition, exercise, bones, senses, DNA, lasers, biology and much more. Adult program topics include information about cholesterol, arthritis, allergies, humor and memory. School programs are integrated with state health and science curriculum guidelines in order to be an extension of the classroom. The programs have been highly effective and successful, which is reflected by the fact that the organization has served more than 1.6 million visitors during its 40 years.

Accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1985, The Health Adventure is also a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers, the NC Museums Council, and the Southeastern Museums Conference.