Something special for Helena has been in the works for several years now, and soon it's finally going to open its doors on what should be a statewide destination -- ExplorationWorks!, an interactive museum of science and culture that's sure to wow the kids but promises to be great fun for all ages.

Some of the facility's board members met with the IR Editorial Board last week with the news that ExplorationWorks!, near the carousel in the Great Northern Center, will be opening for the general public in November.

Inspired in large part on the Exploratorium, a widely admired museum in San Francisco dedicated to hands-on experiences, ExplorationWorks! will be, in the words of board member Bruce Messinger, "a gathering place to celebrate science." Messinger, Helena's superintendent of schools, said classroom teachers will be able to tailor their lesson plans to exhibits appearing at the museum, giving students a chance to follow up their learning with exhibit experiences they're unlikely to forget.

But ExplorationWorks! won't just be cooperating with schools and other organizations. It will be a perfect place for whole families to enjoy an ongoing series of world-class interactive exhibits exploring the science of human health and culture, the natural world, and human-made technology and invention.

Although the ExplorationWorks! building has yet to open, organizers have been spreading their vision for some time bringing hands-on learning to school children. Programs this summer ranged from gardening for tots to robotics for children up to 12.

The building, incidentally, is a bit of scientific wonder itself. Designed to use 60 percent less energy than other commercial buildings of its size, it uses passive and active solar energy, including panels that will track the sun.

The project already has raised about $3 million in donations and grants. It will charge entry fees or a $60 year-long family membership for unlimited use.

ExplorationWorks! not only is aimed at increasing children's interest in science and technology. It is expected to attract people from across the state and even draw tourists visiting the area's national parks, boosting the local economy as well.

We congratulate the many people who have been working on this for so long. It's sure to be a blast.