Brooklyn Children's Museum facts for kids
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The western side of the museum
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| Established | 1899 |
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| Location | 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Public transit access | Subway: Kingston Avenue  Kingston-Throop Avenues  Bus: B43, B44, B65 |
The Brooklyn Children's Museum is a special place for kids in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, New York City. It opened in 1899, making it the very first children's museum in the United States. Some people even say it was the first one anywhere in the world! It's unique because it's located in a neighborhood where most people live. The museum is built mostly underground. In 2008, it got bigger and reopened as the first "green museum" in New York City, meaning it was designed to be good for the environment.
Discover Fun Exhibits
The museum's exhibits show its long history and how kids' learning needs have changed. At first, it focused on teaching natural science to children living in cities. After World War II, technology and different cultures became more important topics. The museum's underground space, built in 1975, was perfect for changing exhibits. The museum wants to do more than just entertain young visitors. It aims to make them think and learn from a young age. Kids even help plan the museum's exhibits, and they have done so for many years!
A Look at Museum History
The Brooklyn Children's Museum started on December 16, 1899. It was first suggested by the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences (which is now the Brooklyn Museum). The museum was run by the Brooklyn Institute. It received about $70,000 from New York City each year, plus other donations. Many people visited the museum quickly. By October 1905, over 13,000 people visited each month.
In 1929, the museum opened a new building called the Smith House annex. Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the First Lady at the time, attended the opening. In 1930, during the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration sent hundreds of workers to help the museum. This helped the museum do very well. One of these workers was Ellis Credle, who painted murals before she became a famous author. By October 1930, 60,000 people visited each month. By 1939, the museum had welcomed over 9 million visitors since it first opened 40 years earlier.
In 1968, the Brooklyn Children's Museum opened MUSE. This was a neighborhood museum in Bedford Lincoln. In 1975, the museum moved to a new, award-winning building. This building was located under Brower Park. It replaced the old Victorian houses where the museum used to be. In 1996, the museum was updated again. This $7 million project added small theaters and new exhibit areas. Two years later, it joined Heart of Brooklyn. This was a group that worked to bring more tourists to Brooklyn.
In 2005, the museum received a large grant. It was part of a $20 million gift from the Carnegie Corporation. This money was made possible by a donation from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Also in 2005, work began on a big expansion. This $43 million project almost doubled the museum's size. It was designed to welcome over 400,000 visitors each year. The museum is committed to being good for the environment. It was the first New York City museum to use geothermal wells. These wells use heat from the Earth to help with heating and cooling.
A part of the museum's building was turned into a new branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. This was part of a partnership between the museum and the library system. The library branch opened in July 2023.
Images for kids
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The western side of the museum
See Also
In Spanish: Brooklyn Children's Museum para niños
