Special rates for schools or other groups - $2.75/person for groups
with 10 or more children. Tours must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.
The museum wants all children and families to enjoy our museum exhibits , outreach exhibits and programs. Special funds are available
to help children, families and groups experience our programs free
of charge. These funds are restricted, please call (269-983-2543)
to make special arrangements for admission and transportation.
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
Curious Classroom Science Units at CKM or Your Classroom
Curious Classroom Science Units are a brand new concept for the 2005-2006 school year. These units are developed using the State Standards and Benchmarks for Kindergarten through 5th grade. The units can be taught as an Outreach program or an on-site visit to the Museum. Call the Museum at (269) 983-2543 for more information.
Outreach at Your School (or Festival, Library, Employee Picnic, Summer Rec. Program, Family Reunion, Birthday Party...)
Our Outreach program goes "on the road" to schools and community events. Topics inlcude Dinomania, Mysteries of Magnets, Mineral Kingdom, Totally Tropical Rainforest, Simple Machines-More Power, Weather Wonders, and the StarLab. The StarLab is our portable Planetarium sponsored by The Fredrick S. Upton Foundation. A great place for learning about Space, Weather, Mission to Mars, Math Around the World Programs, African Skies and many more. These are but a few of the Traveling Hands-On Discovery Exhibits and programs follow Michigan Benchmarks while touching on culture, history and art in an open-ended manner. Outreach reaches 10,000 children annually. Call the Museum at (269) 983-2543 for more information.
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Directions: |
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Easy to reach and a great location.
Conveniently located in downtown St. Joseph directly across the street from Lake Michigan at St. Joseph's Silver Beach. There are many points of interest, picnic areas along the bluff and beach, shops, restaurants, and hotels within walking distance. Plenty of free nearby parking available for your car, RV, or school bus.
CURIOUS KIDS' MUSEUM
415 Lake Blvd. ~ St. Joseph, MI ~ 49085
PH: 269-983-CKID
I-94 East From Chicago: Take 94 east towards
Detroit, to Exit #27 (Niles Avenue), turn left onto Niles Avenue.
Continue North down Niles Ave to the traffic light at the intersection
of Niles and Main St. Turn right onto Main St. Turn left at the
traffic light at the intersection of Main St. & Broad St. Go
two blocks, then turn left onto Lake Blvd. We will be on your
left overlooking Silver Beach & Lake Michigan.
I-94 West from Kalamazoo or Detroit: Take 94 west
towards Chicago to Exit #33 (Downtown St. Joseph/Benton Harbor).
Continue through downtown Benton Harbor, that will take you directly
to downtown St. Joseph (Main Street). Once you have gone over a
bridge and past the Courthouse, you will turn left onto Main Street
at the first light. Then right onto Broad Street (at the traffic
light at the intersection off Main St. & Broad St.) and left
onto Lake Blvd.
I-96 West from Grand Rapids or Holland: Take I-96 to I-94.
Take Exit #33 (Downtown St. Joseph/Benton Harbor). Continue through
downtown Benton Harbor, that will take you directly to downtown
St. Joseph (Main Street). Once you have gone over the St.
Joseph River bridge and past the Courthouse, you will turn left
onto Main Street at that first light. Then right onto Broad Street
(at the light) and left onto Lake Blvd. We are on the left, overlooking
Silver Beach & Lake Michigan.
31 By-Pass from South Bend, IN: Take
the 31 By-Pass North into Michigan. Exit the by-pass at exit #15B.
Follow the exit around and continue north, through the blinking light, following the
N. M-63 signs. Turn left onto N. M-63 at the first stoplight. N. M-63 also becomes Niles Ave. Continue
North on Niles Ave to the traffic light at the intersection
of Niles and Main St. Turn right onto Main St. Turn left at the
traffic light at the intersection of Main St. & Broad St. Go
two blocks, then turn left onto Lake Blvd. We will be on your
left overlooking Silver Beach & Lake Michigan.
Map:
To get to CKM, from your location, please click here
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
