Families across Detroit will soon have a new destination to explore. The Detroit Children’s Museum — one of the nation’s oldest museums designed just for kids — is reopening this fall after being closed during the pandemic.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation announced that the museum will return thanks to $819,200 in grant funding from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and additional support from Detroit Public Schools Community District.
Located at 6134 Second Ave., the museum first opened in 1917 and is home to more than 2.5 million artifacts, from fossils and historical treasures to science and cultural collections. While the building was closed, many of those items still reached classrooms through loan programs, serving nearly 64,000 students last year.
When the museum reopens, families can expect rotating exhibits, science and art stations, imaginative play areas and interactive displays that highlight Detroit’s history and culture. A planetarium and child-friendly galleries will be part of the experience.
“This is a historic moment for Detroit,” said Kerrie Mitchell Campbell-Mabins, President and CEO of the DPSCD Foundation. “The Children’s Museum has shaped generations of learners, and reopening its doors means reigniting that spark for thousands more. The state’s investment allows us to bring this vision to life, but keeping it alive will take all of us — partners, families and community leaders who believe in giving Detroit students the same world-class opportunities as any child, anywhere.”
DPSCD students will get an exclusive preview in October and November before the full public reopening in December.
For parents who remember visiting as kids, the museum’s return offers a chance to share the same experiences with their own children.
“The Children’s Museum holds a special place in the hearts of most Detroiters who were able to visit when they were young students in Detroit Public Schools. With the re-opening of the Children’s Museum, District students will once again be able to create new memories in the planetarium, viewing the bright display cases of unique local and global artifacts, and interactive learning experiences,” said Alycia Meriweather, Deputy Superintendent, DPSCD.
More details on opening events and family programming will be shared closer to December.
