Chicago Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1982 |
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| Location | Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, US |
The Chicago Children's Museum is a fun place for kids and families to learn and play. It is located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. The museum first opened in 1982. It was started by a group called The Junior League of Chicago. They wanted to help when programs in the Chicago Public Schools were being cut.
At first, the museum was in two hallways of the Chicago Public Library. Because so many people wanted to visit, it quickly started offering special "trunk shows" and exhibits that could travel to different places.
About the Museum's Home
The museum moved several times during its early years. It was always looking for a permanent home. In 1995, the museum found what it thought would be its long-term home. It reopened at Navy Pier, right on Lake Michigan.
The new space at Navy Pier was very large. It had about 57,000 square feet (5,300 square meters) for exhibits. This included three floors of educational displays, public programs, and special events. When it moved to the Pier, the museum became the fourth largest children's museum in the United States. Each year, more than 650,000 people visit the museum. This includes visitors at Navy Pier and those reached in communities around Chicago.
Plans for a New Location
The Navy Pier location worked well for over ten years. But in 2006, the museum announced plans to move again. They wanted to go to a new spot at Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park. This new location would have more than double the exhibit space. It would also make it easier for more people to visit.
The idea had strong support from some people, including Mayor Richard Daley. However, others were against the move. They worried that the museum would take up open space in Grant Park. They also feared it might set a bad example for other groups wanting to move into the park. The new building in Grant Park was designed by the architecture firm of Krueck and Sexton Architects. This firm also designed the Spertus Museum on Michigan Avenue.
By early 2011, museum leaders still wanted to move. But they had not made any new progress. It was hard to raise enough money, and the cost of the project had grown to about $150 million. News reports suggested that the museum would likely stay at its current location. At the same time, the Chicago Park District started repairs on the garage under Daley Bicentennial Plaza. On October 25, 2011, the Chicago Park District shared a plan for renovating the northeast part of Grant Park. This plan did not include the museum. When asked about the museum, the park district's director said they were not coming to Grant Park.
In late 2012, the museum announced a new agreement. They signed a 90-year lease to stay at Navy Pier. This agreement included plans to make the museum almost 50 percent larger. It would grow from 57,000 square feet to 84,000 square feet (about 7,800 square meters). Details about this expansion were announced in 2013.
