The Children's Museum Of Green Bay breaks ground on the site of the old H. C. Prange building. At 10 am on June 25th, 2010 The Children’s Museum of Green Bay celebrates the realization of a dream with an exciting, fun, and celebratory groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the old H. C. Prange building. After 4 years of planning today a collective dream and vision finally comes true. The new children’s museum will begin construction later this summer and be open by March of 2012.
The 15,000-square-foot children’s museum expects over 120,000 visitors each year. Exhibit Galleries will include The Mighty Oak, Digestive System, Pillars of Wealth Bank, Fifty’s Diner, Grocery Store, Garage, Reading Nook, Fire Truck and Station. Water Exhibit will include Great Lakes Interactive Wall, Fishing Boat and Pier, Authentic Working Light House, Camp Ground and Sailboats filled with water.
The Imagination Station has a Paint Wall, Potter Wheel, Kiln and Beading Areas. Two Party Rooms will also be a part of the new museum.
Working with Fresh Paint and a number of Universities the new museum will have a state of the art technology area with 2 touch screen interactive walls.
A 2,500 sq ft traveling exhibit area will open with “Mini Camp” a interactive play area donated by the Green Bay Packers.
Monthly programming will include United Healthcare’s Healthy Habits and Learning Program where children will be educated on food and exercise choices. Other topics such as Bullying, Asthma and Allergies, Childhood Obesity, Dental Health and Care will all be covered.
Donors for the new museum include: George Kress Foundation, Schneider National, Bellin Health, KI, Schreiber Foods, KC Stock Foundation, Wisconsin Public Service Foundation, The Selmer Company, Billy Kress, Associated Bank, Joseph and Sara Vandrisse Charitable Trust, Byron Walter Foundation, Proctor and Gamble, Festival Foods, Green Bay Press Gazette, Jack and Inky Meng, Shopko, United Healthcare, Bellin Heath, Merrill Lynch, Betty Rose Meyer, Jacque and John Kress, Emil and Gayle Fischer, Bay Industries, Phil and Betsy Hendricks, Randy and Debbie Rose, Gary Ziegelbauer, Pomp Tires, Carl, Kuehne, Leo Crowley, Mike and Libby Riordan and Wells Fargo.
The museum is still in the midst of its $4.5 million dollar Capital Campaign. The museum has raised $2.6 million.
The Children’s Museum hopes to kick off the Founding Member public phase of the Campaign in time for the 2010 Christmas Holiday Season.
Ganther Construction has been awarded the contract to build the new museum.
Calumet County Bank and WHEDA will be putting together the financing for the museum.
To find out more, or to donate, email gbcmuseum@yahoo.com or call 920-360-5116.