Utica Children's Museum facts for kids
New museum building as of May 2025
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| Established | 1 August 1963 |
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| Location | Utica, New York |
| Type | Children's museum |
| Collection size | 7 galleries and 60+ exhibits |
The Utica Children's Museum is a super fun place in Utica, New York, made just for kids! It's a special museum where you can learn and play. The museum moved from its old spot downtown in 2020. Its exciting new home along Utica's Memorial Parkway opened its doors on May 1, 2025.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
The Utica Children's Museum has a long and interesting past. It started small and grew into the amazing place it is today!
How the Museum Began
The museum was first created on August 1, 1963. It was started by a group called the Utica Junior League. Back then, it was known as the "Junior Museum of Oneida County." Its very first exhibit was a cool model of an Iroquois longhouse.
Moving to New Locations
The museum didn't stay in one place for long!
- In 1963, it was in the basement of the Utica Public Library.
- In 1965, it moved to a building in Roscoe Conkling Park. It stayed there for nine years.
- In 1974, it moved again, this time to the upper floor of the Valley View golf course, also in Roscoe Conkling Park.
- In 1975, the museum changed its name to the Mohawk Valley Museum.
Finding a Long-Term Home
In 1979, the museum found a new home in the John C. Hieber Building. It stayed there for many years, until 2020. At first, it used only the first floor and half of the second floor. But it quickly grew to fill three floors! In 2002, a fourth floor opened. This expansion happened with help from NASA and the Office of Science.
A New Chapter and a New Building
In March 2020, the museum announced plans for an even newer building. This new location is on the Memorial Parkway. It took over the old offices of the Utica City School District.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the old museum to close earlier than planned. During this time, the museum kept learning fun going! They offered online programs and even had a special van called the "Mobile Museum." This van was like a bookmobile, bringing museum fun to kids.
Construction on the new building began in October 2021. The museum officially reopened its doors to visitors on May 1, 2025. Now, it has 7 galleries and over 60 exhibits for everyone to explore!
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