Minnesota Children's Museum facts for kids
The Minnesota Children's Museum
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| Former name | Minnesota's AwareHouse |
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| Established | 12 December 1981 |
| Location | 10 West 7th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US |
| Type | Children's museum |
The Minnesota Children's Museum is a super fun place in Saint Paul, Minnesota, made just for kids! It's a special children's museum where you can explore, learn, and play. The museum first opened its doors in 1981 in Minneapolis. Later, in 1995, it moved to its current, bigger home in Saint Paul.
This museum has many exciting areas. You can discover exhibits about Minnesota's nature. There are also special learning zones for younger kids. Plus, you'll find places to get creative and solve problems. The museum also hosts cool traveling exhibits from all over the world.
Contents
History of the Museum
Early Beginnings in Minneapolis
The museum first opened on December 12, 1981. It was called Minnesota's AwareHouse back then. It was located in downtown Minneapolis. Many families loved visiting, and soon, about 80,000 people came each year! The museum quickly became too big for its first spot.
In 1985, the museum moved to an old blacksmith's shop. This new location was in a place called Bandana Square. They changed the old building into 18,000 square feet (about 1,672 square meters) of fun galleries. But by the early 1990s, even this space was too small for all the visitors and new exhibits.
Moving to Saint Paul
In September 1995, the Minnesota Children's Museum opened its new, much larger building. This new home was in downtown Saint Paul. It had a huge 65,000 square feet (about 6,039 square meters) of space for galleries and programs!
Some of the most popular exhibits from Bandana Square moved to the new museum. These included "Habitot," the "Crane" (which became part of the "World Works" gallery), and the "Maze." The "Maze" was transformed into a giant anthill in the "Earth World" area.
Recent Updates and Renovations
Over the years, more than 6 million children and their families have visited the museum. In September 2012, the museum started planning a big update. They wanted to make it even better for visitors.
Major renovations began in late 2015. On December 5, 2016, the museum closed for a while to finish these big changes. It was a $30 million project! When it reopened on June 7, 2017, the museum had a new layout. It also featured 10 brand-new exhibits. Plus, they added a cafe and more bathrooms and elevators for everyone's comfort.
Exciting Galleries and Exhibits
The Minnesota Children's Museum has many amazing areas for you to explore. Here are some of the main galleries:
- The Scramble: This area is super active! It has a four-story climber, a giant spiral slide, and a catwalk that's 40 feet high.
- Forces at Play: Here, you can experiment with different forces. Try out ping pong ball launchers, a wacky car wash, and make tons of bubbles!
- Shipwreck Adventures: Dive into an "underwater" world! This adventure is based on a real shipwreck, letting you imagine life beneath the waves.
- Imaginopolis: This is a space for imaginative play. Right now, it features the "Cosmic Junkyard," where you can build and create.
- Sprouts: This sensory play space is perfect for babies and toddlers (ages 3 and under). It's designed for the youngest visitors to explore safely.
- Creativity Jam: Get your creative juices flowing here! It currently features "The Play Lounge," a great spot for imaginative fun.
- Our World: Step into a vibrant pretend town. You can visit a fire station, a post office, and many other places just like in a real town.
- The Studio: This is a "maker space" that changes often. You can try different art projects and creative challenges. Currently, it offers an "Invitation to Draw."
- The Backyard: This is an outdoor exhibit that lets you explore a natural world with a twist. It's open during certain seasons.
- Tip Top Terrace: Another outdoor exhibit, open seasonally. It features a big frame house, a sensory garden, and a musical playground.
- The museum also has a special gallery that hosts different traveling exhibits. These exhibits come from all over the world, so there's always something new to see!
