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 for kids in Tacoma, Washington. It is a nonprofit museum, which means it focuses on helping the community rather than making money. The museum officially opened its doors in 1986.
At the Children's Museum, kids can learn through fun, hands-on activities. It's all about playing to discover new things! In 2018, the museum received a big donation of $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Defense. This money helped them open a second location on a military base called Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
History of the Museum
The Children's Museum of Tacoma was started in 1985. It opened to the public in 1986. From the very beginning, it offered play activities and hands-on learning for children. In 2000, Tanya Durand became the museum's leader, known as the Executive director.
In 2012, the museum moved to a much bigger building in Tacoma. This allowed them to offer even more space for kids to explore. At that time, the museum also started a unique policy. Visitors could pay any amount they wanted for admission. The museum has three main play areas, each with a different theme: Woods, Water, and Voyager.
Working 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 center was created to serve the children of the university's teachers and staff.
Partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense
In 2018, the Children's Museum made plans to open a second museum. This new location would be on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a large military base. The U.S. Department of Defense supported this project. They committed $1.6 million to help make it happen. The museum transformed an old skating rink on the base into the new children's museum. This second location opened in 2020.
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 on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
