The founders of the Muncie Children's Museum began planning the idea of a museum for children in 1975. A steering committee saw the need for a child-oriented learning facility, so they prepared a proposal to Kappa, Kappa, Kappa, Inc., a local philanthropic sorority.
The sorority then established a planning board to determine feasibility of this new endeavor. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Sand Associates of Boston were contracted consultants for the Museum project. The Sand Associates of Boston happily joined, due to their background of pioneering "the kind of learning environment which help children understand the world in which they live."
During the planning process, it was decided that all exhibits would require participation and interaction from the children. These exhibits would also be fun, raise questions, provoke interest and stimulate curiosity. This philosophy remains to this day, the backbone of the Muncie Children's Museum.
Two years after the museum was proposed, their doors opened for the first time in 1977. The Museum moved into the old Petty and Walgreens buildings in downtown Muncie, but it soon was obvious that the size was not adequate for growth and development. In 1989, the Board of Directors conducted a needs assessment and came to the conclusion that a new facility or location was necessary in order to grow, expand exhibits and have adequate space for parking.
The board surveyed many avenues, but the need to serve the total community required the Museum to remain downtown. They knew that any other location would limit the audience. The Board then focused on the task of funding for the Museum. They also had to find a new location and a way to support ongoing operations once the Museum was moved.
In 1993, a professional feasibility was done in order to address the response of the community toward the Museum. The response was positive, and a goal of $3,000,000 was set. The campaign began in late fall of 1994. Thanks to support from businesses, government and individual support from the community, the goal was met in 1996.
The new Children’s Museum leased 24,000 square feet from the local Horizon Convention Center and has since tripled its size. The new Museum opened to the community in June of 1996 and has successfully brought educational, but fun entertainment to the children of our community ever since.
|
