MOSH CEO resigns as museum faces funding gap for Northbank move

MOSH announced Jan. 8 that CEO Alistair Dove resigned, and the museum remains tens of millions short of funding for its planned Northbank facility.

The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) announced on Jan. 8 that CEO Alistair Dove has resigned. The museum said the resignation will not affect plans for a new facility on Jacksonville's Northbank. MOSH has been pursuing a downtown move with both city and private support, but project costs exceed current commitments. The City of Jacksonville has committed $50 million and the museum has raised $45 million in private donations, while total costs are estimated between $131 million and $141 million. Key details: - Alistair Dove resigned on Jan. 8; board chair Jill Davis thanked him for his leadership over the past two years and for expanding community-based learning programs. - MOSH stated the resignation will not affect plans for the new museum. - The City of Jacksonville has committed $50 million and MOSH reports $45 million in private donations; estimated project costs are $131 million to $141 million, leaving a multi‑million dollar shortfall. - To reduce costs, museum leaders proposed cutting on‑site parking from 75 spaces to 30, which they say would save more than $5 million; visitors would be directed to off‑site parking near the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, about a seven‑minute walk. - Some Jacksonville City Council members have raised concerns about the reduced parking plan, citing accessibility and convenience for visitors. - MOSH has not announced a permanent replacement for the CEO and did not respond to requests for an updated construction timeline or clarification on whether full funding must be in place before construction begins. Summary: The leadership change comes as MOSH still faces a sizable funding shortfall for the Northbank project and has proposed cost reductions that have prompted questions from some city council members. Undetermined at this time.