Child Museum (Cairo) facts for kids
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| Established | 1986 |
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| Location | 34, Abo Bakr EL Seddik Street Heliopolis, Cairo,  Egypt |
| Type | Children's museum. A hands-on experience of the history of Egyptian civilisation and its various subjects |
| Visitors | 400,000 children a year |
| Public transit access | Tram Station Haroun El Rashid |
The Children's Civilization and Creativity Center is a super cool museum in Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. It opened in 1986 and has been updated twice to make it even better! This huge museum and cultural spot covers a massive area, about 14 football fields big. It was built to help all children in Egypt learn and have fun. Many experts from Egypt and around the world helped create this amazing place.
The museum was designed by experts from Egypt, the UK, and the USA. Museum builders from all over the world helped put it together. They wanted kids and teens to learn through hands-on exhibits, interactive games, and computer activities. There's even a fantastic dome show that takes you through the history of science in Egypt! In May 2012, the museum won a big award from the UK, called the Museum and Heritage International Award.
Contents
Explore the Museum's Outdoor Adventures
The museum's entrance is on Sharia Abo Bakr El Seddik street. You'll see a cool "Space Pyramidion" structure there. It has planet spheres circling a pyramid, showing off Egypt's ancient and modern cultures. Your visit starts with an exciting journey down the Nile River valley!
Journey Along the Nile: Past and Present
This outdoor path shows how the Nile has shaped Egypt over time. It begins at a fountain, which represents the Nile's source. You'll see rocks carved with dinosaurs and ancient sea creatures like basilosaurus. These animals once lived where Egypt is today! Their modern relatives, hippos and crocodiles, greet you as you continue.
The path leads you through different periods:
- Early Nile Settlement: Imagine the river banks as a humid jungle, with elephants wandering by the Nile.
- Drying Nile Valley: The landscape changes to savannah, with lions, giraffes, and gazelles appearing.
- Pharaonic Period: The area becomes a desert. You'll see an oasis with a desert camp. Along the Nile, an Egyptian garden shows off beautiful lotus and papyrus plants.
- Medieval to Modern Egypt: The path continues past a medieval Nile village. Then it reaches the modern landscape of Heliopolis, where the main museum building and cinema are.
- Nile Delta: Finally, the path leads to the Delta area, with a pretend Alexandria seaside resort. There's even a Roman theatre for outdoor shows!
This outdoor journey is full of shady trees and helps you get ready for the museum's indoor learning areas. The garden also has living displays of birds, butterflies, and fish. You can even try an outdoor excavation! There's a large cafeteria where schools and families can eat and relax. Outdoor classrooms are perfect for creative and musical activities. The cinema shows 3D educational films and has a bookshop too.
Discover the Museum's Indoor Worlds
The inside of the museum has four main exhibition areas. Each one is on a different floor. You can reach them by a central spiral staircase called the "Time Stair." This staircase takes you from the roof all the way to the basement!
Where Did Egypt Come From?
This floor explores Egypt's amazing past and archaeology. You can learn about the pyramids and visit a replica of Tutankhamun's tomb. You'll also learn how to examine mummies and discover modern ways of digging up ancient treasures. Plus, you can explore underwater archaeology in Alexandria.
Who Are the Egyptians?
This section helps you discover how Egyptian civilization grew along the Nile River. It's divided into the three main seasons of the Nile:
- Flood: When the Nile waters rose.
- Sowing: When farmers planted their crops.
- Harvest: When they gathered their food.
Why Is Egypt Like It Is Today?
This part of the museum looks at how modern Egypt developed. You'll see a panorama of Egyptian landscapes and learn about environmental issues. It also shows how young citizens like you can help Egypt today.
What Is Egypt's Future?
This exciting section looks at the history of science in Egypt. There's a hands-on exhibition where you can explore stars, ships, astrolabes (old tools for telling time and position), telescopes, airplanes, and even space travel! There's also an amazing 4D dome show. In this show, famous Egyptian scientists appear to tell their stories. They encourage visitors to dream big and help shape Egypt's future.
The museum is open every day except Friday, from 9 AM to 2 PM.
