Maine Discovery Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 2001 |
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| Location | 74 Main Street Bangor, Maine, United States |
The Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor, Maine, is a super fun place for kids! It's the biggest children's museum in Maine, and also the largest one north of Boston, Massachusetts.
This museum opened its doors in 2001. It used to be a big department store called Freese's Building. Many people worked hard for years to plan and raise money for it. The Maine Discovery Museum is also part of the Association of Children's Museums, which connects children's museums everywhere.
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How Did the Museum Start?
In 1996, a person named Sean Faircloth had the amazing idea to create the Maine Discovery Museum. He led the whole project, which cost about $4.5 million, until it was finished in 2001. At that time, the museum was the biggest children's museum in New England outside of Boston.
The museum has three floors filled with exciting, hands-on exhibits. One of its newest additions is called NANO. This special exhibit was given to the museum by the NISE Network.
What is the NANO Exhibit?
NANO is an interactive exhibit all about nanoscience, engineering, and technology. It helps you learn the basics of how tiny things work at the "nano" level. You can explore real-world uses of this technology. The NISE Network chose the Maine Discovery Museum to receive this valuable exhibit because of their great work in science education.
What Awards Has the Museum Won?
In 2012, the Maine Discovery Museum celebrated ten years of being a part of the community. The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce named it the "Nonprofit of the Year." Also in 2012, the museum was chosen to lead the city's big Independence Day Parade.
The museum is also a member of Bangor Arts. This group works to support art and culture in the Bangor area.
Let's Get Moving!
The Maine Discovery Museum is a "Let's Move!" partner. This means it works with the "Let's Move!" program, which was started by former First Lady Michelle Obama. This program helps fight childhood obesity and encourages kids to be active.
In early 2012, the museum made a big change. They removed all regular vending machines and food options. Instead, they added machines with healthy, natural, and organic snacks. These included juices, healthy sodas, and even gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan choices. This change was part of a new plan to help kids eat healthier. Many exhibits at the museum also encourage both big movements (like running) and small movements (like building).
How Does the Museum Raise Money?
The museum's biggest and longest-running way to raise money is its Annual Auction. This event happens every fall. Artists from all over Maine and beyond donate their artwork. These pieces are then auctioned off at a special dinner to help support the museum.
What Can You Explore on Each Floor?
The Maine Discovery Museum has three floors, each with different fun things to do!
First Floor Fun
- Reptile Room: Meet cool reptiles like Ball Pythons, Bearded Dragons, Crested Geckos, and Leopard Geckos.
- Nature Trails: Explore indoor rivers and nature paths. You can even go inside a life-size beaver dam and climb a two-story tree house!
- Gift Shop: Find souvenirs and gifts to remember your visit.
- Front Desk: This is where you enter and get information.
Second Floor Adventures
- Booktown: Visit the Good Night Moon room for reading stories. See a vintage motorcycle and Vespa, put on a puppet show, and play on a farm.
- Tradewinds: Pretend to cook in a play kitchen, try out different instruments, explore a giant world floor map, and load cargo onto a play ship with a crane.
- Party Rooms: Two special rooms where you can celebrate birthdays or other events.
- Snack Room: A place to enjoy healthy snacks.
Third Floor Discoveries
- Sun, Earth, Universe: Build your own rocket ship, learn about space, and decode secret messages using UV light and magnets.
- Artscape: Design a giant Light-Bright display, build structures with PVC pipes, and even make your own paper.
- Pet Vet: Take care of stuffed animals like Pedro, Digger, and Tab.E.Cat. Play in a vet's office with a doctor's desk, exam table, and vet tools. This is also part of the "Doctors Office" exhibit.
- Dino Dig: Dig for and identify fossils, learn about dinosaurs, find and hatch dinosaur eggs, and discover what dinosaurs ate.
- Doctors Office: Play as a patient or a doctor in this office. This is also part of the "Pet Vet" exhibit. Explore human body parts you can walk through, and use a giant toothbrush to clean a big set of teeth.
