Children's Museum of Tacoma facts for kids
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The museum's exterior, 2023
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Location | 1501 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402. |
| Type | Nonprofit Children's museum |
The Children's Museum of Tacoma is a special place in Tacoma, Washington, designed just for kids! It's a nonprofit museum, which means it's run for a good cause, not to make money. The museum first opened its doors in 1986. Here, children can learn through exciting hands-on play. In 2018, the museum even got a big donation from the U.S. Department of Defense to open a second location on a military base called Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Discover the Museum's History
The Children's Museum of Tacoma was started in 1985. It officially opened in 1986. From the very beginning, it focused on fun, hands-on activities for children. These activities help kids learn by doing. In the year 2000, Tanya Durand became the museum's Executive director.
In 2012, the museum moved to a much bigger building in Tacoma. This new space allowed for even more amazing exhibits. At this time, the museum also started a special policy. Visitors could pay whatever they felt they could afford for admission. The museum has three main play areas: Woods, Water, and Voyager. Each area offers unique ways to explore and learn.
Learning with the University of Washington Tacoma
In 2015, the Children's Museum of Tacoma teamed up with the University of Washington Tacoma. Together, they opened a learning center called The Muse. This special center was created to serve the children of the university's teachers and staff. It provides a convenient and fun place for them to learn and play.
Expanding with the U.S. Department of Defense
In 2018, the Children's Museum of Tacoma made exciting plans. With help from the U.S. Department of Defense, they decided to open a second museum. This new location will be on the Joint Base Lewis-McChord military base. The museum is turning an old skating rink on the base into this new learning space. It was expected to open in 2020. The Department of Defense gave $1.6 million to help with this project.
In January 2020, another big announcement was made. The company Boeing and its Employees Community Fund (ECF) donated $1.5 million. This money also went towards the new Children's Museum of Tacoma at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. These donations show how much support the museum has.
