GREAT RIVER CHILDRENS MUSEUM

IN JUNE OF 2025, GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (GRCM) OPENED ITS DOORS TO A MUSEUM FILLED WITH 8 INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT AREAS COVERING 31,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBIT SPACE. GRCM WELCOMED OVER 52,000 VISITORS FROM ACROSS 41 STATES WITH THE FOCUS OF BRINGING KIDS AND FAMILIES TOGETHER TO PLAY, SPARK LEARNING, BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS. GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS AND HAS TAKEN AN INTENTIONAL APPROACH TO PROVIDING PATHWAYS TO ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM FOR FAMILIES AND ALL OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA'S PRE-K, ELEMENTARY, HOMESCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND CHILDCARE GROUPS. DONATIONS TO GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDE A PATH TO PLAY THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS INCLUDING: DISCOUNTED ADMISSION, DISCOUNTED FIELD TRIPS, DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEEDED PROGRAMS. GRCM BEGAN HOSTING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PILOTED 9 FIELD TRIPS IN 2025. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 61 FIELD TRIPS BOOKED, OVER 4,000 STUDENTS, FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR.GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OFFERS A $5 TICKET TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RECEIVING WIC OR SNAP BENEFITS AND WELCOMED NEARLY 7,000 PEOPLE IN AT THE $5 TICKET PRICE IN 2025. THIS DISCOUNTED ACCESS INITIATIVE IS FUNDED BY DONOR DOLLARS. INFANTS WHO ARE 12 MONTHS AND UNDER ARE GRANTED FREE ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM. AS A SPACE DESIGNED FOR AGES BIRTH TO 10 YRS OLD, GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM UNDERSTANDS THAT THE PLAY-FILLED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND EXHIBITS THAT ARE OFFERED WILL BENEFIT THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS THE MOST.INDIVIDUAL DONOR SUPPORT AND GRANT SUPPORT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE XCEL FOUNDATION ALSO AFFORDED GRCM THE ABILITY TO BEGIN OFFERING DISCOUNTED ACCESS TO FIELD TRIP GROUPS. A TIERED ADMISSION DISCOUNT IS OFFERED BASED ON THE NEED OF THE SCHOOL / GROUP AS DETERMINED (WHEN APPLICABLE) BY FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH ELIGIBILITY PERCENTAGES. PROGRAMMING WAS PILOTED IN THE TEACHING KITCHEN AND ON THE MUSEUM FLOOR, INCLUDING PAJAMA PLAY & STORYTIME; UNITY SNACK MAKING; AND SOMETIMES VERSUS ALL THE TIME FOODS. ADDITIONALLY, A ROTATING SLATE OF ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTING ART, SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, MATH, AND TECHNOLOGY ARE OFFERED IN THE TINKER WORKSHOP, AN EXHIBIT ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. A MINNESOTA ARTS & CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND LEGACY GRANT AFFORDED GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE LOCAL ARTISTS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COMMISSIONED PERMANENT MURALS, A SCULPTURE, AND A MOSAIC. THESE PUBLIC ART WORKS SHOWCASE THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF OUR REGION. AN EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY OF THE LAND AND BUILDINGS, ON AND IN WHICH GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CURRENTLY RESIDES, WAS ALSO FUNDED IN PART BY LEGACY DOLLARS.A STATE AWARDED CASH GRANT, TOTALING $7MM FROM THE GENERAL RESERVE FUND AND AWARDED TO GREAT RIVER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, WAS FULLY SPENT DOWN TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING. FUNDING FROM PLEDGE SUPPORTERS WAS ALSO PUT TOWARD CONSTRUCTION AND EXHIBITS EXPENDITURES. PUBLIC FUNDRAISING WILL CONTINUE IN PERPETUITY FOR PROGRAMMING AND ACCESS INITIATIVES. GRCM CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER GREATER MINNESOTA CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS TO ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND PLAY AS A POWERFUL RESOURCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND BONDING.IN 2025 THE STAFF GREW FROM 4 TEAM MEMBERS TO 35: 8 FULL TIME AND 27 PART TIME. THAT TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS THE MUSEUM EVOLVES TO PROVIDE MORE PROGRAMS, MORE OUTREACH, AND OTHER EXPANDED OFFERINGS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.