Lutz Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1953 |
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| Location | Manchester, Connecticut, United States |
| Type | Children's museum |
The Lutz Children's Museum is a special place in Manchester, Connecticut. It is a museum just for kids! It is a non-profit organization. This means it uses its money to help the museum, not to make a profit. The museum first opened on March 4, 1953. It was started by the Manchester Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Their goal was to give students extra learning and fun. They also wanted the community to share ideas.
Contents
History of the Lutz Children's Museum
How the Museum Started
A woman named Hazel Lutz had a great idea. She was in charge of the Art Department in Manchester. She asked the Manchester Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to help start a children's museum. Hazel loved to travel and collected many interesting items. She thought these items would be fun for kids to learn from.
She started a small "museum" in a storage closet at her school. Her collection grew as people donated more items. Soon, she had things related to many school subjects. The PTA then gave the museum its first official home. It was in the basement of the Waddell School.
Growing and Moving
By 1957, the museum was getting very big. It had hundreds of learning kits. About one hundred volunteers helped out. In 1958, the museum became a private non-profit organization. This meant it could run on its own.
The Board of Education offered the museum a new home that same year. It moved to 126 Cedar Street. This was next to the Washington School. On September 26, 1958, the museum opened its new doors. This new space allowed them to show their collections. They could also have live animals and hold classes all year.
A New Name and Location
The museum kept growing over the years. By 1982, it needed an even bigger home. The town of Manchester suggested a larger building. This building was the old South School. It had nice views of the Manchester Country Club.
The museum accepted the new, larger building. At the same time, it got a new name. The "Lutz Junior Museum" became the "Lutz Children's Museum."
What the Museum Does
The Lutz Children's Museum wants to help kids learn. It explores culture, history, and nature. It does this through exhibits, programs, and fun experiences. You can learn inside the museum or even outside!
Education and Fun Events
Classes and Learning Programs
The museum offers many classes. You can learn about art, history, and nature. Teachers at the museum lead these classes.
The Lutz also has "In-School Resource Lessons." This means museum teachers visit schools, camps, and other programs. They bring museum items or live animals with them. Sometimes, they even dress up in costumes! These teachers often have college degrees in subjects like archaeology or biology. Many also have special training in education.
Annual Events and Art Shows
The museum hosts several fun events each year. One popular event is the annual Farm Day. This is held at the Fish Family Farm in Bolton.
During the school year, the museum holds art exhibits. Eight elementary schools in Manchester choose student artwork. This artwork is sent to the museum. Students can then visit and see their own work on display!
Exciting Exhibits
Main Street 1943
The Lutz opened the Main Street 1943 exhibit in 2010. This exhibit is a play area that looks like Main Street in Manchester in 1943. You can see places like Marlow's department store. There are also things from World War II, like old radios and newspapers. This exhibit helps you learn about Manchester's history. It also shows what life was like in the country and the world during that time.
Farm Room
One of the most popular exhibits is the Farm Room. It has a play area about farm life. You can learn about working and living on a farm. There is even a statue of a cow that you can "milk"!
Animal Room
The Animal Room is a favorite part of the museum. It is home to many animals. You can see snakes, chinchillas, turtles, rabbits, and different birds. The most famous animal is Chuckles the woodchuck. Chuckles helps the museum celebrate Groundhog Day every year!
Oak Grove Nature Center
The museum also works with the Town of Manchester to run the Oak Grove Nature Center. This center is at 269 Oak Grove Street. It is on a fifty-two-acre nature preserve. The museum uses this building for outdoor education programs. The nature center is open for special programs and events.
