Kaleideum facts for kids
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| Established | July 1, 2016 |
|---|---|
| Location | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Type | Children's museum, Science centre |
| Visitors | 200,000 annually |
Kaleideum is a super cool museum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It's a place where kids and families can explore science, art, and play! This awesome museum was created in July 2016 when two older museums joined forces.
The two original museums closed their doors in December 2023. Then, a brand new, bigger Kaleideum opened in downtown Winston-Salem on February 7, 2024. It's now a fantastic spot for everyone to discover new things.
Contents
Kaleideum: A Fun Place to Explore and Learn
How Kaleideum Started
Kaleideum came to be when two popular museums decided to merge. Both museums had been around for a while, offering different kinds of fun and learning.
The Nature Science Center and SciWorks
One part of Kaleideum's history began in 1964 as the Nature Science Center. It was started by a local group called the Junior League. This early museum was first located in a barn!
In 1972, the Nature Science Center moved to a bigger campus. After a big renovation, it reopened in 1992 with a new name: SciWorks. In 2001, SciWorks made its main galleries even larger. It also added an indoor eating area for visitors.
SciWorks had a large building with lots of exhibit space. It also featured a 15-acre outdoor park and a planetarium. The exhibits covered many topics, like North Carolina's land and rocks, the human body, and how things move (physics). There was even a special pendulum that showed how the Earth spins!
The museum also had a gallery for traveling exhibits. These shows came from all over or were made right there. The BioWorks exhibit, updated in 2010, taught visitors about local and exotic animals.
Outside, the environmental park was home to white-tailed deer and river otters. There was also a barnyard with donkeys, sheep, and cows. Kids could explore outdoor exhibits about sound and water. A garden showed off plants native to the area. SciWorks also offered fun educational programs, summer camps, and special camp-ins for groups like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
The Children's Museum of Winston-Salem
The other museum that became Kaleideum was the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem. After the merger, it was sometimes called Kaleideum Downtown. This museum opened in November 2004. It was also a gift to the city from the Junior League of Winston-Salem.
This museum was a safe and fun place for young children and their families. It focused on learning through play, stories, and art. The museum offered birthday parties, summer camps, and special events. It also had storytime and theater performances.
In 2014, the Children's Museum welcomed Peppercorn Theatre. This theater group created amazing original plays and puppet shows. These shows helped to entertain and teach visitors.
Kaleideum Downtown had many cool exhibits. "Kaleidoscape" was a giant climbing structure made of crochet. There were also two multi-level climbing structures designed by Tom Luckey. "The Enchanted Forest" was a magical play area with a folklore theme. "The Amazing Library" was perfect for young readers. Kids could pretend to shop at the "Food Lion Supermarket" with plush food. "Amazing Airways" let children experiment with air tubes. "The Prop Shop" was a theater backstage area for crafts. And the "Krispy Kreme Doughnut Factory" let kids pretend to make and deliver doughnuts!
Coming Together: The Merger
In 2015, leaders from both the Children's Museum and SciWorks started talking. They realized that joining forces could help both museums. In July 2016, they officially merged!
Forsyth County leaders approved money for a brand new museum building. On February 7, 2017, the new name, Kaleideum, was announced. The name combines "kaleidoscope" (a toy with changing patterns) and "museum."
Architects began designing the new building. On June 24, 2021, the county approved more funds for the four-story building. The grand opening of the amazing new $48 million museum happened on February 17, 2024.
What You Can Explore at Kaleideum Downtown
The new Kaleideum downtown is a four-story building packed with fun. It has brand new exhibits and some old favorites from the original museums.
Exciting Exhibit Halls
- By Design: This area lets you get creative! You can build with construction toys or try out computer simulations.
- In Motion: Explore how things move, energy works, and the science of physics with interactive toys and exhibits.
- Feature Hall: This hall changes every six months! It hosts different traveling exhibits. Past topics have included healthy feelings, winter weather, and old-time toys.
- Storytelling: Dive into the world of language, creative writing, plays, puppets, and even filmmaking.
- Wonders of Water: Play with water and learn about how fluids work. Discover different animals that live in water habitats.
- Our Nature: Learn all about animals, their homes, and wild environments.
- The Try-It Studio: This is a quieter space for puzzles, crafts, and activities. It helps you improve your fine motor skills and thinking.
More Adventures at Kaleideum
Beyond the main exhibits, Kaleideum has even more to offer!
- Digital Dome: Watch amazing planetarium shows, laser shows, and films in this special dome.
- Rooftop Adventure: Head to the roof for a huge outdoor playground that spans two stories!
- Learning Labs: These labs offer special activities and classes with a specific focus.
- Kaleidoscope Cafe: If you get hungry, there's an eatery right inside the museum.
