Have you ever wondered what it would take to change the world? Some inspiration can be found just a few blocks from the Seattle Center. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center is filled with interactive exhibits that challenge you to think about some of the world’s toughest problems. My family spent a few hours touring the visitor center and left humbled by the work being done and inspired to make a difference in our own community.
There is a lot to like about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center. First, the exhibits are really interesting and engaging. There was a prototype toilet that made you think about the sanitation challenges many people deal with every day. There was a 16 pound bucket that, as your child lifted it, taught about the girls who have to carry this weight for miles every day just so their family can have water to drink. A uniquely shaped jug was designed to make it easier for families to transport and sell milk – their primary source of income. As you spend time in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center, you begin to think about the enormity of the world’s challenges and how a few good ideas truly can make a difference.
The exhibits are truly designed for visitors of all ages. My son loved the hands on areas where you could create your own inventions, write messages, add your photo to the wall, or spin a globe to see images from around the world on the big screen. I liked how each exhibit was designed to educate but also inspired you to think about the world’s challenges. For example, our tour guide showed a soccer ball that generated electricity when children played with it. A lamp could then be plugged in to provide light for reading. In areas without reliable infrastructure, something like this could truly change how a family lived.
Before visiting the center, I had only heard about the Foundation’s efforts to eradicate malaria in Africa or to end polio. It was interesting to see that, in addition to big challenges like sanitation in India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also has programs to help end family homelessness in Washington State.
If you are visiting the Seattle Center, it is worth walking over to the Visitor Center for a tour. There are five main galleries, including a theater that plays a rotating program of short
videos that offer a deeper perspective on the work being done. You can schedule a group tour, no matter if you are a small family or large school group. Or you can just explore the visitor center on your own. It is worth keeping an eye on the events calendar for one of the family days when additional activities for children are offered.
Admission is free and you can drop in any time the Gates Foundation Visitor Center is open – no reservation is required. There is a parking structure (for a fee) adjacent to the visitor center or you can just walk over if you are visiting the Space Needle or EMP. Before you leave, be sure to add your photo to the wall. There are “I Care About…” signs that you can hold up if yo would like to show your support for a particular cause.
To learn more or to plan your own visit, check out gatesvc.org. Thank you to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the tour. This has been on our list of things to do since we moved to the area and we enjoyed learning about all of the good work taking place.
