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 exciting children's museum located in Austin, Texas. It used to be known as the Austin Children's Museum. This museum is a great place for kids and families to explore, learn, and play together.
The Story of Thinkery
Thinkery has an interesting history. It started small and grew into the amazing place it is today.
How the Museum Began
The museum first opened in 1983. Back then, it didn't have its own building. Instead, it had "traveling exhibits." These exhibits would visit different public places. You might have seen them in malls, parks, or even 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. People helped raise money for a bigger building. Michael and Susan Dell even gave a million dollars! This helped the museum move to a larger spot at Colorado and Second Street.
A New Name and a Big New Building
The downtown location closed its doors on September 7, 2013. But don't worry, it was for a good reason! A brand new museum, now called Thinkery, opened on December 7, 2013.
This new building is huge! It's called the Meredith Learning Lab. It has 40,000 square feet of space in the Mueller Community. That's a lot of room for learning and fun!
Many Visitors Come to Learn
Thinkery is a very popular place. In 2015, almost 500,000 people visited the museum. That's half a million visitors! It shows how many families love to learn and play at Thinkery.
What is Thinkery All About?
Thinkery was created to help families in the Austin area. Its main goal is to offer cool learning experiences. These experiences are for children and their families.
Learning with STEAM
Thinkery focuses on subjects known as STEAM. This stands for:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Art
- Math
The museum makes learning about these subjects exciting and hands-on. You can do experiments, build things, and create art. It's all about exploring and discovering new ideas.
Thinkery's Special Achievements
Thinkery has been recognized for its great work. Many important groups have chosen Thinkery for special programs and awards.
Sparking Creativity with Grants
Thinkery was one of only 33 organizations chosen for a special grant. This was from Cognizant’s Making the Future program. Thanks to this grant, Thinkery started its "Spark Club" program. This program helps kids get creative and learn new skills.
Hosting Maker Corps
In 2014, Thinkery became a host site for Maker Corps. Only three organizations in Texas were chosen! Maker Corps is part of the Maker Education Initiative. Thinkery hosted a "resident Maker" who worked with local kids. They learned about STEAM learning by making cool projects.
Supporting Young Ambassadors
The Smithsonian Latino Center picked Thinkery as a host site for their Young Ambassadors Program. This is a well-known program for high school students who are about to graduate. It helps them learn about museums and cultural careers.
Connecting Science with People
Thinkery was the first children’s museum to join Portal to the Public. This program helps scientists share their work with the public. It means you might get to meet real scientists at Thinkery!
Google Fiber Community Connections
Thinkery was also chosen as a local site for the City of Austin’s Google Fiber Community Connections program. This program helps connect communities with high-speed internet.
