For decades, the William Weinman Mineral Museum in Cartersville, Ga., seemed more like a sign on the highway than a place to stop and learn. Field trips were the main clientele at the 9,000-square foot museum. But a private donation and months of construction recreated it as Tellus: Northwest Georgia Science Museum, a 120,000-square foot, hands-on educational center — one that opened just in time to greet the worst of the recession. My profile of the museum and its first year ran on Page One of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sept. 12, 2009.

Read the story: New Tellus science museum now a Smithsonian Affiliate

See more photos from the museum: What’s on display at Tellus