Published: November 21, 2008 12:33 am         

Terre Haute Children’s Museum $1.4 million from goal

75-percent of funds already raised

TERRE HAUTE — Community members bundled up and braved the cold Thursday evening to get a look at the progress of the Terre Haute Children’s Museum on Eighth Street and Wabash Avenue.

Though it’s three large, empty floors now, a PowerPoint presentation later in the evening showed them what it could be. The “Hard Hat Tour” featured walking tours, virtual tours and project and exhibit overviews of what’s expected for the more than $5.3 million project.

Seventy-five percent of the fundraising goal has been reached, but about $1.4 million still is needed to complete the project.

“For the first time, I can see the finish line,” said John Thompson, president of the museum board, as he encouraged the crowd to get involved by buying a brick or limestone block, sponsoring an exhibit or museum space, or donating. “But now, more than ever, we must be dedicated to run through the finish line and not to it,” he said.

Should all the funds be raised, the new museum will open in October or November of next year.

“We’ve got something that our community has embraced,” Thompson said at the beginning of the program. “We’ve got something that should have no enemies. How can you be against something that is for the children of our community?”

Steve Arnold, of MMS Architects, was on hand to give the people who didn’t take the walking tour an idea of how far the project has come and let everyone see what officials hope it will look like when complete.

As he went through the virtual tour, he highlighted ways people could still get involved with bricks or sponsorships.

“As you’re coming from east and west on Wabash Avenue, this is going to be a beacon and isn’t that cool?” Arnold said. “… This is our community, this is your chance, my chance, we’ve got something wonderful and beautiful.”

Board member Stan Hawthorne outlined some highlights of the exhibits that will be featured in the new museum, explaining that one of the primary goals was to “provide a dynamic and immersive experience,” so that the children would be learning and not realize it.

The first floor will be the natural sciences floor with a dinosaur dig, nature exchange, active beehive and the feature display — the tree house — a two-story climbing structure with an exhibit space at the top and a slide to get back to the first floor or an entrance to the second floor.

Cubbyholes with messages about plant identification and animal habitats, among other things, will be featured throughout the tree for children to learn about.

As children move on to the second floor, or the Wet Area, they can play at the water table to learn about piping, fountains, rivers and dams or enjoy the bubble exhibit. An early childhood area with climbing, peek-a-boo and a craw and toddler track also will be on the second floor, Hawthorne explained.

Space and aeronautics, wheels and motion and music will be featured on the third floor with a laser harp that uses lights instead of strings, paper airplane science and a Lego race track.

Hawthorne noted that the exhibits aren’t final and that the board is always open to new concepts.

Susi Willis of Paris, Ill., was able to go through a walking tour and was pleased with what she saw.

“I think it’s a fabulous building,” she said. “The views on the third floor are just spectacular.”

As a Terre Haute businessperson, Willis said the Children’s Museum is something Terre Haute needs, because it will be sparking children’s interest in science and technology at a very young age, which is important to make them better citizens.

Once completed, space will be available for birthday parties or other functions as well.

For more information about the Children’s Museum, or to get involved, call (812) 235-5548, or visit www.terrehautechildrensmuseum.com.



Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.