Kidspace Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1979 |
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| Location | 480 N. Arroyo Blvd. Pasadena, California 91103 |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Visitors | 378,000 |
Kidspace Children's Museum is a special place for kids in Pasadena, California. It is located right next to the famous Rose Bowl. The museum helps children learn in creative and interactive ways. It is built in the old Fannie E. Morrison Horticultural Center.
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Discover the History of Kidspace
Since opening its new location in December 2004, Kidspace Children's Museum has offered a fun learning space. It helps children in the local community explore and learn.
How Kidspace Began
1979: Kidspace Children's Museum first started at the California Institute of Technology. It was a project by the Junior League of Pasadena. The goal was to give children in the San Gabriel Valley more access to arts, humanities, and sciences. Volunteers created an exhibit called "Making Senses." This exhibit used robots and neon lights to excite kids. Over 10,000 young visitors came to see it!
1980: The museum officially opened its doors in the Rosemont Pavilion. It featured many "hands-on" exhibits. Groups like NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Art Center College of Design helped create these exhibits. Experts from different fields guided the museum's first Board of Advisors.
1981: Kidspace found a bigger and easier-to-reach location in Pasadena. Later that year, it became a private, nonprofit children's museum. This meant it was run for public benefit, not for profit.
1982-1990: Kidspace introduced many new exhibits and educational programs. These programs helped children learn about arts, humanities, and sciences. They had quarterly themes like "Homes and Habitats" and "Children of the World at Play."
1991-1995: A new school programs coordinator helped teachers plan visits. Summer workshops were popular for campers. "Toddlers on the Move" offered classes for parents and fun play for little ones. Staff and volunteers also put on yearly events. These included the Rosebud Parade, a "creatively creepy" Haunted House, and the Eco-Arts Festival.
1996: The Kidspace Board of Directors decided to make the museum bigger. They wanted it to become a major cultural and educational spot in Southern California.
2002: Kidspace closed its old site at McKinley School. They began renovating the historic Fannie Morrison Horticultural Center buildings. This new location was in Brookside Park.
2005: The brand new Kidspace opened! It featured 2.2 acres (about 8,900 square meters) of beautiful gardens.
Exciting New Additions
2010: Kidspace started to expand its outdoor areas. They began building a physics-related area on the east side. This area would be called the Robert & Mary Galvin Physics Forest.
2012: The Robert & Mary Galvin Physics Forest officially opened in July. It covered almost an acre and had 13 exhibits. All these exhibits taught about physics under a canopy of trees. This was the first big addition to Kidspace since it opened in Brookside Park.
2013: The Imagination Workshop opened in November. It was built inside Roberts Pavilion. This project was part of a bigger plan for new exhibits.
2014: The S. Mark Taper Early Childhood Learning Center opened in May. This was another project from the exhibit master plan.
2015 - 2016: Pepper Tree Music Jam opened in November 2015. This was the first exhibit for the upcoming Arroyo Adventure. Arroyo Adventure opened in April 2016. It was the next big improvement after the Galvin Physics Forest. This exhibit brought 8 new experiences. They encouraged children to connect with nature. Kids could explore water, rocks, mud, sticks, trees, and native plants. In November 2016, Roberts Pavilion was updated. It became the Storyteller Studio. This area had four new exhibits. Children could express themselves through puppets, theater, storybooks, and fine arts.
2017 - 2019: The Association of Children's Museum chose Kidspace to host their conference in May 2017. The Kidspace On The Road program grew. It partnered with Goldenvoice for the Arroyo Seco Weekend music festival. This partnership created a family-friendly experience at the Rose Bowl. The museum also reached its fundraising goal of $13 million. Splash Dance Fountains reopened in 2018 as the final exhibit for the campaign. Bean Sprouts Café also opened.
2020: Kidspace welcomed a new chief executive officer, Lisa Clements.
Our Community Partners
Kidspace has received support from many people and groups. These include individuals like Jud and Marilyn Roberts, and the Boone Family. Major community partnerships have been formed with the City of Pasadena, the Junior League of Pasadena, and Nestle Corporation. These partners help Kidspace continue to offer amazing learning experiences for children.
