| Creative
Discovery Museum
Background
Background
The Creative Discovery Museum opened on May 26, 1995 as part
of Chattanooga's redeveloped riverfront district. It is an
innovative place where interactive, hands-on activities provide
learning fun for children ages two to twelve. The concept
for the Museum evolved as an idea for a children's wing of
the Hunter Art Museum. The idea quickly outgrew its origins
to become a multi-disciplinary educational institution for
young people. It's objective is to foster creative and critical
thinking through exhibits and programs in art, music, math,
science and technology. The Museum combines a substantive
educational program with a "WOW" factor that actively
engages children in learning.
Initial
funding was acquired from visionary individuals and foundations
to make the plan for a children's museum a reality. Chattanooga
public and private school students and 60 of their teachers
determined how the Museum could best meet children's strongly
held requirement that the Museum feature a hands-on, high-tech
experience, while meeting the teachers' pragmatic requirement
that the Museum have a substantive education program that
supports the curriculum goals of local school systems.
Designed
by Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership in New
York, acknowledged experts in children's museum design, supervised
building and exhibit design for Creative Discovery Museum.
Their goal was to create a facility "rich in imagery,
exciting to the eye, welcoming to the visitor and friendly
to the child" - a backdrop for a successful educational
program.
After
extensive renovations and additions by Kraemer Design and
Production, the Museum now features RiverPlay, the Little
Yellow House, Arts Alley and the Back Alley Theatre, Excavation
Station, the Inventors’ Clubhouse, Lookout Tower, and
the Rooftop Fun Factory.
Additional
facilities in the 43,000 square foot, two-story building include
a 120 seat theater, Museum shop, Creative Cafe, temporary
exhibits gallery, Little Debbie Classroom, a conservatory
and the rainbow birthday party room. All Museum exhibits are
geared for children from ages 4-months to twelve-years-old.
All areas of the Museum are fully wheelchair accessible (except
the 3rd level of the Lookout Tower and the top level of RiverPlay).
Hours
Memorial Day to Labor Day – Open daily from 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m.
September to February – Closed Wednesdays. Open Sundays
from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Open all other days from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m.
March to May – Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through
Saturday. Open Sunday Noon to 5 p.m.
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Admission
Adults: $7.95 Children 12 & under: $6.95 Under 2: Free
Discounts are available for reserved groups of 10 or more.
Attendance
The 2004 attendance was 218,000 visitors.
Membership
The Creative Discovery Museum has 3,000 family and grandparent
memberships. Membership benefits include unlimited free Museum
admission for two specified adults and all children or grandchildren
18 and under for one year, $2 off adult general admission
tickets for guests, a subscription to the Museum newsletter
"GO," and discounts on birthday parties, cafe purchases,
programs, performances and gift shop purchases. Family and
Grandparent memberships are $75.
Financial
Creative Discovery Museum is a private, non-profit, 501(c)3
organization. The Museum’s annual operating budget is
$1.8 million per year.
Staff
18 full-time and 30 part-time
Volunteers
29 Board members, 50 adult volunteers, 75 MAP teen volunteers
and 100 special project volunteers
Special
Events
Some of the Museum's regularly scheduled special events include:
• "AMUSE"UM, an annual fund-raiser that
allows grown-ups to take over the Museum for an evening
while they act like kids – March
• Annual Museum birthday party celebration for the
community – last Saturday in May
• Members Only evenings and exhibit sneak previews
• Annual Red, White and Blue Days – July 4th
holiday
• Annual Honey Harvest Festival – last Saturday
in July
• Annual exhibit focusing on inclusion of students
with disabilities – September
• Annual Halloween Costume Party – October
• Annual Winter programming and special events –
Thanksgiving through January
• Annual New Year’s Eve at Noon party –
December 31st at Noon
Museum
Shop
The best place to buy educational, quality, FUN toys and games.
The Shop offers games, toys, books, science kits and art work
related to the permanent and changing exhibits. The shop is
open during regular Museum hours.
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