Garden State Discovery Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1994 |
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| Dissolved | January 2025 |
| Location | Cherry Hill, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Type | Children's museum |
| Visitors | 250,000+ (annually) |
The Garden State Discovery Museum was a special place in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It was a children's museum designed for kids to learn and play. The museum opened its doors in 1994 and quickly became a favorite spot for families.
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Exploring the Garden State Discovery Museum
This museum was a fantastic place for children from babies up to 10 years old. It offered many fun and educational activities. Over 150,000 people visited the museum every year.
Fun and Interactive Exhibits
The museum had many different areas where kids could explore. Each exhibit was like a mini-world of its own. Here are some of the exciting things visitors could do:
Building and Creating
- Under Construction: Kids could play in a two-story "unbuilt" playhouse. It was a great way to imagine building something new.
Pretend Play Adventures
- Vet & Pet: This area was like an animal hospital. Children could pretend to be veterinarians and care for toy animals.
- Silver Diner: A pretend restaurant where kids could cook, make milkshakes, and use cash registers. It was just like a real diner!
- Check-Up: Here, children could play doctor in a pretend office. They learned about health in a fun way.
- Down the Shore: This exhibit featured a pretend boat. Kids could imagine sailing on the water.
- Farm Stand: A colorful stand filled with fake fruits and vegetables. Children could pretend to buy and sell produce.
Creative Arts and Media
- Backstage Theater: This was a real stage with a dressing room and costumes. Kids could put on shows and use a sound system. It even had 100 seats for an audience!
- Channel 6 Action News Studio: Children could sit at a pretend news desk. They could even use a camera, just like real news reporters. This was provided by WPVI-TV.
Nature and Science Explorations
- Nature Center: This area had a tree house, a giant spider web, and puppets. It was a great place to learn about nature.
- Subaru Science Shop and Service Station: Kids could explore science and mechanics. This exhibit was supported by Subaru of America.
Active Play and Safety
- Rock Climbing Wall: For kids who loved adventure, there was a safe rock climbing wall.
- Train Safety: This was a special railroad simulator game. It taught children important rules about staying safe near train tracks. A character named Tracks, an animated railroad crossing signal, helped guide them.
Educational Programs
Beyond the exhibits, the museum also offered many educational classes. Children could join drama and music programs. All these extra activities were included with the price of admission.
Museum's Recognition
The Garden State Discovery Museum was well-known for its great exhibits. Parents magazine even named it one of the top 50 children's museums in the United States. This showed how much families loved visiting.
Museum Closure
Sadly, the Garden State Discovery Museum permanently closed its doors in March 2020. This happened just before the COVID-19 pandemic became widespread.
