What is the Curious Kids' Museum?
Touch, see, hear, smell and taste the Wonders of Our World. The Curious Kids' Museum is a hands-on children's museum dedicated to stimulating the curiosity of children from 1-100 with educational exhibits and programs which challenge the senses and offer unique learning opportunities. More than just a series of exhibits - explore science and areas of special interest at workshops and family programs scheduled throughout the year. Bring your classroom for a visit, or we'll bring or Outreach to you.

Reader's Choice Awards - The Herald Palladium
"Best Museum" and "Best Place to Take Kids" in Southwestern Michigan- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

 

History
The Curious Kids' Museum began in 1987 as an idea shared by several residents interested in alternative approaches to science education. Their initial goal was the establishment of a participatory museum in which visitors of all ages could directly experience and interact with exhibits which demonstrate basic scientific understanding and achievement. A feasibility study conducted through Lake Michigan College found tremendous community support for such a facility. Visits were made to numerous children's museums and data was gathered from many more. The delight families had learning together and the children's natural responsiveness to hands-on exhibits confirmed the founding group's belief that a participatory museum would be a welcome addition to our area. Community input and materials gathered from established museums led them to broaden the original idea and create the mission statement upon which the museum was founded.

During the year-and-a-half before The Curious Kids' Museum opened, the Curious Kids' Museum Board of Trustees and the Advisory Council were formed, bringing together many people of diverse interests and talents. They shared the vision of a museum where children learned in the way they learned best; through their own initiative with materials meant to be handled.

Principal founder, Mary Baske, and a committee of four area women worked with the City of St. Joseph to locate the museum in its present home in Memorial Hall. Fund raisers and contributions from area foundations, individuals, and businesses provided the $140,000 needed to renovate Memorial Hall prior to opening the museum. Additional donated funds, labor, and materials produced the wide variety of exhibits which welcomed the first visitors in October of 1989 to tour the museum and provided the "lifeblood" that propelled the museum's rapid growth. Patricia Adams is the current executive director.

Incorporated in 1989, this grass roots children's museum is located in historic Veterans Memorial Hall in St. Joseph, Michigan with a westerly view of the public beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is considered to be one of the finest educational resources in Southwestern Michigan.

With over 8,000 square feet of space for exhibits and programs, over 70,000 guests visit annually. The museum is a great stopping point for any vacation due to its location on Lake Michigan.

Please enjoy this poem from a Guest about her visit to Curious Kids' Museum-

Curious Kids’ Museum
St. Joseph, Michigan
August 2005

I turn myself over to her
as I haven’t done nearly often enough

in the five years since
she’s been the middle child.

I sit on the small stool, close my eyes,
and turn my face upward in offering.

Her hand on top of my head, she steadies herself,
and leans slightly through the core of me.

Slowly, silently, meticulously
she begins to draw on my cheek.

First one, then the second antenna curling,
two dots for eyes and the slow, lean oval of the body.

In these careful and proud details,
blindly, I meet my girl at the brink of nine.

She pauses for a different color.
My eyes still shut, I know she will have chosen blue.

Against my cheek, I feel her line
billowing blue wings

and in the slight displacement of air
her own wings unfurling.

ARLYN MILLER