Children's Museum of South Dakota facts for kids
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| Established | 2010 |
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| Location | 521 4th St, Brookings, South Dakota, U.S. |
The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a super fun place in Brookings, South Dakota, especially for kids and families! It's a special kind of museum where you learn by playing and exploring. This museum opened its doors in 2010. It's located in a building that used to be an elementary school, which was completely updated to create this amazing space.
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About the Children's Museum of South Dakota
The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a big place, covering 44,000 square feet. That's a lot of room for adventure! Inside, you'll find over 5,000 "loose parts." These are items like blocks, tubes, and other materials that kids can use in endless ways to build, create, and imagine. It's all about hands-on learning and letting your creativity shine.
The museum also has a great outdoor playground where you can run around and play. If you get hungry, there's a cafeteria called Café Coteau right there. It's a perfect spot to grab a snack or a meal during your visit.
What You Can Explore
The museum has many different play areas that are open all year long. These areas are designed to help you learn about science, art, and the world around you through fun activities. You can discover new things and try out different roles, like being an engineer, an artist, or an explorer.
One of the most exciting things at the museum is "Mama." Mama is a full-size, moving T. rex! She's one of only a few permanent, animatronic T. rex models in the entire United States. It's an incredible experience to see such a huge dinosaur come to life right before your eyes.
Tangle Town: A Unique Art Piece
Another special feature is an interactive art installation called Tangle Town. This amazing piece was created by a famous artist named Patrick Dougherty. He's known for making incredible sculptures out of natural materials like sticks and branches. Tangle Town is a "stickwork" installation, which means it's made entirely from woven branches. You can actually walk through and explore this unique, maze-like artwork. It feels like stepping into a giant, natural sculpture!
How the Museum Works
The Children's Museum of South Dakota is a non-profit organization. This means it's not run to make money, but rather to serve the community and provide educational experiences. The museum gets its support from an endowment, which is like a special fund, set up by The Dale and Pat Larson family foundation. This support helps the museum keep its doors open and offer all its wonderful programs.
Lots of people love visiting the museum! More than 100,000 visitors come to the Children's Museum of South Dakota every year. It's a popular spot for families to learn, play, and make lasting memories.
