Picture a museum born in 2007 from the merger of Exploris and Playspace, tucked into downtown Raleigh. Founded in 2007 by the merger of Exploris and Playspace, Marbles carries a clear mission: "…spark imagination, discovery and learning through play. You can feel that intention in every corner of the building.
Inside, several permanent, play-based exhibits align with five core initiatives: Ready Set Learn., Be Healthy, Be Active., Create, Innovate., Explore, Experiment., and Connect. The museum even hosts an IMAX theater on its campus that plays first-run Hollywood features and 45-minute documentary movies. The screen there is the largest conventional IMAX in the state, measuring 52 x 70 ft (16.1 x 21.3 m).
The story of Marbles reaches back: Exploris opened in 1999 as a $39.5 million state-of-the-art interactive global learning center. Playspace began in City Market and remained there until the late 1990s before moving to 410 Glenwood. You are literally at the intersection of those histories, play and learning, with Moore Square and this lively museum building framing the campus.