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| Louisiana Children's Museum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Louisiana Children's Museum |
| Established | 1979 |
| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Type | Children's museum |
Louisiana Children's Museum is a children's museum in New Orleans, Louisiana dedicated to interactive, play-based learning for families and children. The institution serves as a cultural resource within the French Quarter–Marigny corridor and collaborates with regional partners to present exhibits and programs that connect to Louisiana's cultural, environmental, and scientific heritage. The museum operates as a nonprofit organization engaged with local schools, municipal agencies, and national museum networks.
The museum was founded in 1979 amid a broader national expansion of children's museums inspired by pioneers such as the Boston Children's Museum and the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Early development involved partnerships with Tulane University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and New Orleans Public Library branches to establish traveling exhibits and community workshops. Post-Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts intersected with funding from entities like the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to rebuild infrastructure, similar to recovery work undertaken by institutions including the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Relocation and expansion projects in the 2010s drew comparisons to capital campaigns by the Smithsonian Institution affiliates and involved negotiations with the City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.
Permanent and rotating installations emphasize regional themes such as Mississippi River ecology, Cajun and Creole cultural practices, and maritime heritage linked to the Port of New Orleans. Interactive science exhibits reference local research institutions like Louisiana State University and University of New Orleans and incorporate specimens and materials used by the Audubon Nature Institute and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Exhibits include hands-on galleries that draw inspiration from designs at the Exploratorium and the Children's Museum of Houston, with components addressing weather patterns studied by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and coastal restoration projects associated with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Rotating exhibits have featured collaborations with arts institutions such as the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center (New Orleans), and touring science exhibits coordinated through the Association of Science-Technology Centers. Special exhibitions occasionally highlight artifacts and performances connected to Jazz icons archived by the New Orleans Jazz Museum and the Louisiana State Museum network.
Educational programming aligns with curriculum frameworks used by the New Orleans Public Schools and charter systems like KIPP New Orleans Schools and ReNEW Schools. The museum offers early childhood workshops informed by research from Tulane University School of Medicine and developmental frameworks referenced by the American Academy of Pediatrics. STEM-focused camps and maker sessions build on methodologies used at the MIT Media Lab and the Carnegie Science Center, while bilingual literacy initiatives coordinate with community partners such as WriteNOLA and The Dolittle Foundation. Professional development for educators has been delivered in conjunction with the Louisiana Association of Educators and training modules aligned with state standards administered by the Louisiana Department of Education.
The museum's facility reflects urban redevelopment trends seen in projects like the Crescent Park revitalization and riverfront campus planning akin to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas expansion. Architectural work for renovations referenced best practices promoted by the American Alliance of Museums and incorporated sustainable design principles advocated by the U.S. Green Building Council. Site planning required coordination with municipal agencies including the New Orleans Planning Commission and utility oversight by Entergy New Orleans.
Accessibility improvements paralleled initiatives by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution accessibility office and incorporated input from disability advocacy organizations like United Way of Southeast Louisiana affiliates and local chapters of the Arc of Louisiana.
Outreach programs extend the museum’s reach through mobile exhibits, partnerships with neighborhood centers like the Broadmoor Improvement Association and festivals including Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest satellite events. Collaborative public programming has involved Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra family concerts, family science nights with NOAA representatives, and cultural demonstrations coordinated with community groups such as the New Orleans African American Museum and Treme Preservation Hall stakeholders. The museum also partners with public health initiatives led by the Louisiana Department of Health and food access programs associated with Second Harvest Food Bank to support family wellbeing.
The organization operates as a nonprofit corporation governed by a board drawn from leaders in sectors represented by institutions such as the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Entergy Corporation, and regional academic partners like Loyola University New Orleans. Funding streams include earned revenue from admissions and memberships, philanthropic support from foundations such as the Kresge Foundation and the Ford Foundation, and project grants from federal agencies including the National Science Foundation. Capital campaigns have involved major donors, municipal incentives from the City of New Orleans, and corporate sponsorships comparable to partnerships cultivated by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and the Please Touch Museum.
Category:Museums in New Orleans