Thinkery facts for kids
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| Established | 1983 |
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| Location | 1830 Simond Ave, Austin, Texas,  United States |
| Type | Children's |
Thinkery is a fun and interactive children's museum located in Austin, Texas. It was once known as the Austin Children's Museum. This museum is a special place where kids and families can learn through play.
Contents
Discover Thinkery's History
How Thinkery Started
Thinkery first opened its doors in 1983. Back then, it didn't have a permanent home. Instead, it offered "traveling exhibits." These were like pop-up science and art shows. They would visit different public places. You might have seen them at malls, parks, or libraries!
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1987, the museum found its first real home. It was a storefront on Fifth Street in Austin. This was a big step for the Austin Children's Museum. Later, in 1997, the museum needed more space. A special fundraising effort helped them move. Michael and Susan Dell even gave a very generous donation. This helped the museum move to a much bigger spot. It was located at Colorado and Second Street.
Moving to the Mueller Community
The downtown location closed on September 7, 2013. A new and exciting chapter began for the museum. On December 7, 2013, the new Thinkery opened. It moved into the Meredith Learning Lab. This is a huge building, about 40,000 square feet! It's located in the Mueller Community of Austin. This new space allowed Thinkery to offer even more amazing experiences. In 2015, almost 500,000 people visited Thinkery.
What You Can Do at Thinkery
Learning Through Play
Thinkery was created to serve families in the Austin area. Its main goal is to offer awesome learning experiences. These experiences focus on STEAM subjects. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. The museum believes that learning should be fun. It encourages kids to explore and discover.
Interactive Exhibits
At Thinkery, you can find many hands-on exhibits. These exhibits let you experiment and create. You might build something, solve a puzzle, or learn about how things work. It's a great place to get curious. You can also develop new skills.
Thinkery's Special Achievements
Thinkery has received recognition for its great work. Here are some of its achievements:
- It was chosen for the Cognizant's Making the Future grant. This helped Thinkery start its Spark Club program.
- In 2014, Thinkery became a host site for Maker Corps. This program helps young people learn through making projects.
- The Smithsonian Latino Center picked Thinkery as a host for their Young Ambassadors Program. This program helps high school seniors.
- Thinkery was the first children's museum in Portal to the Public. This program connects scientists with the public.
- The City of Austin chose Thinkery for its Google Fiber Community Connections program.
