Museum-wide Theme

Imagination in Motion: Animation and Optical Illusions

Opening January 18, 2024

Enter a world of endless possibilities where reality blurs and creativity takes center stage. Unveil the secrets of animation’s evolution, immerse yourself in optical illusions, and discover the science behind your favorite animated films. Imagination in Motion is a visual playground where creativity knows no bounds and the impossible becomes possible. Prepare to have your senses challenged and your mind baffled as you encounter a mesmerizing array of optical illusions. Get ready for a journey of creativity, imagination, and mind-boggling surprises!

Museum Map

Rotunda Exhibit

Reel Revolution: The Rise of Animation

Opening January 18, 2024

Explore how the future of animation is being shaped within the minds of visionaries just like you. Step through time to uncover the origins of some of the most well-loved movies, shows, and characters of all time.

Take a tour around the world to different animation studios like Florida’s own Walt Disney Animation Studios, California’s Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan’s beloved Studio Ghibli. Discover their rocky roads to success, tools of the trade, jobs within the industry, and the creative processes behind bringing pictures to life.

Museum Map

Juried Art Exhibition

Shaped By Water

April 18, 2024 – May 5, 2024

Like no other, our peninsula state is shaped by water in the physical and creative realms. From the moving sands that surround your feet in the surf, to strokes of brushes on the canvas, to the hands molding clay, to carved river banks, to the tide-influenced creeks snaking back to the sea – all are continuously shaped by water. Every aspect of Florida life is influenced by the waters along our coasts, in our communities, and those that flow in the aquifer beneath our feet – they shape our culture, passions, politics, economy, biodiversity, and quality of life. The creative works in this exhibition explore how Florida is “Shaped by Water,” literally and figuratively, on canvas, photo, sculpture, and screen.

The art show, presented by The Water State, a division of Play Hard Florida, will be held at the Cade Museum! The show, the environmental nonprofit Florida Springs Institute will showcase original works of art by the most talented artists in North Central Florida.

Learn More

Themes & Exhibits Coming Soon!

Ebb & Flow: Waves of Innovation

Theme opening May 9, 2024

This summer, join the Cade in a celebration of the little molecule that changed everything! From a refreshing beverage to a tidal wave, water holds the key to life itself. It can literally move mountains, save lives, and allow the tiniest seeds to grow into the mightiest rainforests. Sail the high seas to uncover ocean-saving inventions, explore water’s shape-shifting abilities, and get ready to dive into activities that will blow you out of the water! 

During this theme, you can earn the following Inventivity Badges:

  • Fluid Dynamics – May 9 – June 16
  • State of Matter – June 20 – July 28
  • The Atmosphere – August 1 – September 15

Turning Tides: Save the Ocean Through Invention!

Opening May 9, 2024

We’re staying green and going blue. The ocean blankets our planet, covering a staggering 70% of its surface. As humanity brainstorms ways to keep our home-sweet-home happy and healthy, visionaries are no longer looking to the stars, but to the sea for solutions. Embark on a journey through inventions that are fostering a planetary partnership towards a greener future and bluer planet. 

Rube Goldberg™: The World of Hilarious Invention!

Opening May 19, 2024

Created by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Heirs of Rube Goldberg, the exhibition showcases Pulitzer Prize winning humorist and inventor Rube Goldberg’s iconic contraptions and celebrates his humorous storytelling and inventive cartoons.  

Inspired by Rube’s original illustrations, the exhibit contains a collection of new 3D, life-size machines and hands-on, interactive components that connect Rube’s iconic cartoon contraptions to the way things work in the physical world. These experiences provide insight into the legacy of Rube Goldberg and how classic engineering principles can be reimagined as entry points for deeper exploration of STEAM concepts for 21st century learning.  

Visitors can activate and create crazy chain-reaction contraptions that use everyday objects to complete simple tasks in the most overcomplicated, inefficient and hilarious ways possible! Rube Goldberg machines are many things, but they aren’t perfect. Find the fun in failure as you step into the role of illustrator, storyteller and inventor.

You’ll find these things and more in the exhibit:  

  • Move balls and ramps to trigger chain reaction machines in Wall Machines, then figure out how they work by resetting each part. 
  • Be inspired by Rube Goldberg’s drawing techniques to create your own hilarious cartoon in the Art Studio and then see how it looks at the Revolvometer. 
  • Pull ropes to start a series of musical chain reactions in the large-scale sound animation Music Machine. 
  • Step into one of Rube’s iconic wearables, “Self-Operating Napkin”®, for a one-of-a-kind photo op.   

Permanent Exhibits

The Sweat Solution

Gatorade from concept to commercialization and beyond…​The Sweat Solution provides a summary answer to that delicate but necessary question posed in 1965, “Why don’t football players ever urinate during a game?” The exhibit will showcase the invention of Gatorade, the lives saved because of its science, the industries that emerged from its invention, and its incredible global impact.

At First Flush

At First Flush will tell you the story of toilets, soaps, and Thomas Crapper. Find out how astronauts use the restroom, how toilets crowned the most powerful cities, and who used the first flushable toilet (and loved it).

Located in the Cade Museum’s restrooms.

Mothers of Invention

Everyone says that necessity is the mother of invention, but at the Cade, we see inventions born from all of these Mothers of Invention: Necessity, Curiosity, Imagination, Iteration, and Serendipity. Around Rotunda, see examples of inventors who exemplify these concepts. Click the button below to read more about the exhibit and listen to the audio tour.

Located along the Cade Museum’s second floor rotunda.

Audio Tour Available​

Plan Your Visit

Are you ready to spark your own creativity? Find out our hours, admissions, and further visitor information below.

Plan Your Visit