Both Helen and Owen Garriott grew up in Enid, Oklahoma and wanted to give back to the community that nurtured them so much during their growing up years. Even though they were no longer married, they remained great friends and nothing proves it more than their coming together with the idea and proposal of building a community driven, hands-on arts and science museum in Enid. In the early 1990s the Enid Arts and Science Foundation was formed.
The Garriotts purchased the building, as well as the lot across the street and then contacted Tom Rockwell (Norman Rockwell’s grandson) who is in the business of building science playgrounds. Tom Rockwell came to Enid and helped organize the town and surrounding communities.
Rockwell was the only paid person on the project! He worked with over 12,000 volunteers to make it a reality.
Helen recalls it looked like ants building anthills. There were three different weekends that everyone all came together, from small children slathering paint into the forms, older children working on the animal forms to high school students working with the telephone polls. Fast food restaurants donated food and community organizations donated funds. Son Richard drove up with a busload of volunteers from Austin, Texas. She says she had 26 people at her home for the weekend work, and overall it was the most amazing community effort she has ever experienced.
Leonardo’s Children Museum opened in 1995 as a hands-on art and science museum, dedicated to enriching and inspiring children of all ages by creating fun learning opportunities.