Fleet Science Center Legacy
1973–Present
The crown jewel of Fleet’s civic contributions was the creation of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park — one of the first interactive science museums in the United States, and home to the world’s first combined IMAX Dome theater and planetarium.
Fleet envisioned a place where all generations could experience science firsthand, not as distant theory but as something touchable, playful, and inspiring. He funded the project personally, ensuring it would open debt-free.
The Fleet quickly became a cornerstone of science education in San Diego:
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pioneering hands-on exhibits decades before they were common
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hosting school programs that reached hundreds of thousands of students
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expanding the IMAX Dome to international acclaim
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acting as a cultural hub for astronomy, physics, and technology
Today, the Fleet Science Center stands not only as a memorial, but as a living embodiment of Fleet’s belief that curiosity is the engine of progress.