Miami Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1983 |
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| Location | 980 MacArthur Causeway Miami, Florida United States |
| Type | Children's Museum |
| Public transit access | Metrobus S line |
The Miami Children’s Museum is a special place in Miami, Florida, where kids can learn and have fun! It's located on Watson Island. This museum is a non-profit organization, which means it's not just about making money. Instead, it focuses on teaching kids through exciting programs, classes, and learning materials.
The museum helps children learn about arts, culture, their community, and how to communicate better. They also offer great support for kids who speak more than one language and those with special needs. It's a place where everyone can explore and discover new things!
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Journey
The Miami Children's Museum has a cool history, growing from a small idea into the big, fun place it is today.
How It All Started
The museum began in 1983 and was first called the Miami Youth Museum. In 1985, it opened its first small space inside a mall. It was about 2,000 square feet, which is like a big classroom.
Growing Bigger and Better
Just one year later, in 1986, the museum moved to a new shopping mall in South Miami. It got even bigger, expanding to 4,000 square feet! More space meant more fun, and the number of visitors quickly grew from about 10,000 to nearly 20,000 people each year.
The museum kept growing over the next few years. They added more exhibits and welcomed even more visitors. They also started a special program in 1987 to reach out to the community. This helped the museum connect with many more people, serving almost 900,000 through its outreach programs.
Planning a New Home
In 1991, the museum received its first big grant from the State of Florida. This money helped them plan for an even bigger and better facility. Over the next few years, they received nearly $2 million in gifts and grants, including a very important grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
In 1996, the mall where the museum was located was going to be torn down. So, the museum had to move temporarily to another center in Coral Gables, Florida. At the same time, they were looking for a permanent new home. They found a spot near the Vizcaya Metro-Rail Station in partnership with Miami Dade County. In 1997, the museum officially changed its name to the Miami Children’s Museum.
Finding a Permanent Spot on Watson Island
By 2000, the museum faced some challenges with the planned site, so they decided to look for a different location. A new team was formed to find the perfect spot. This team raised a lot of money, about $8.2 million, by the end of 2000.
They found a great location on Watson Island, and plans for the new building were finalized in 2001. In 2002, the State of Florida gave the museum another $500,000, bringing the total state funding to $2.4 million. The fundraising campaign was very successful, reaching over 90% of its goal in just six months!
Opening the Doors on Watson Island
Finally, in 2003, the Miami Children’s Museum opened its brand-new, large facility on Watson Island. This is where it is still located today! The building was designed by a famous architecture firm called Arquitectonica.
The museum continued to expand. In 2005 and 2006, they added a special area for a charter school, helped by another $500,000 grant from the State of Florida.
What You Can Explore Today
Today, the museum is a fantastic place with 14 permanent galleries, each with different themes for kids to explore. It also has classrooms for preschoolers, a resource center for parents and teachers, and a gift shop called Kid Smart where you can find educational toys. There's even a 200-seat auditorium for shows and events, and a Subway restaurant if you get hungry!
Since opening on Watson Island in 2003, the museum has welcomed over 5 million guests. It now sees more than 400,000 visitors every year, making it a very popular spot for families and kids to learn and play.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Infantil de Miami para niños
