The London Children's Museum is getting closer to moving to their new home - but they need your help to get there.
They'll be at 100 Kellogg in the fall of 2024, but they're asking the community for the last few dollars to finish the move.
“We all understand the effect the pandemic had on children and families, and that families continue to feel heightened stress and pressure even today, including fewer opportunities to learn through play,” said Kate Ledgley, the museum's executive director. “The London Children’s Museum has always been here to help our littlest Londoners thrive with self-directed learning, exploration and unique experiences that build confidence and resilience. Our new space will make this critical learning opportunity possible for even more children. We are thrilled to share that construction is underway, and we have our generous donors to thank.”
The museum's current space on Wharncliffe Road is roughly 11,000 square feet. The 100 Kellogg location will be over 30,000.
"We know the demand (for the space) is there," Ledgley said. "We're really excited to be part of this destination. Something for London to be proud of that's going to attract people from outside of the city."
100 Kellogg is already home to a variety of bars, shops and entertainment stops. A hotel is currently being built on the property.
"We listened to what Londoners said that they wanted as well as engaging families from outside of London," she added.
The museum will have the following exhibits when it's completed in 2024:
1. Branching Out: An accessible treehouse village encouraging children to climb, crawl, balance and explore, focused on the interconnectedness of living things.
2. Discovery Lab: Offering STEAM-based creative opportunities from making to experimenting, focused on helping children build skills, take risks and follow their creative instincts.
3. Farm Works: A farm and factory setting featuring the region’s history in manufacturing, industry and agriculture, focused on how food is produced, processed and sold.
4. Community Roots: A child-sized town with familiar spaces inspired by London and combining local culture and history, focused on imaginative and collaborative play.
5. Unearthed: A space to explore the world of dinosaurs, with a Dig Pit, Dig Lab and an immersive cave system, focused on encouraging discovery and exploration.
6. Above & Beyond: A place to explore the far reaches of the universe and become astronomers and astronauts, focused on exploration and learning about the galaxy.
7. Stream: Inspired by the Thames River (Deshkan Ziibi, Antler River), offering exploration of water physics and life on the water including a waterfall and aqueduct, focused on learning about wildlife, flood plains and environmental stewardship.
8. The Annex: A new accessible open space, event venue and home for temporary exhibits, focused on facilitating community gathering and celebrations of London’s culture, arts and heritage.
Museum leadership is in the final phase of a $23-million fundraising campaign to finance the move and the new location.
$18-million has already been raised from government and private donors and former Thames Valley District School Board Director of Education Bill Tucker is co-chairing the campaign to raise the final $5-million.
Nearly $3-million was contributed by the federal government.
"Word of mouth is magic, and when we get people to take the tour and see what the potential is, word will spread," Tucker told London News Today when asked how they'll raise the rest of the cash. "Hands on experiences, I'm all about education. This [will be] the optimal education experience for kids."
Officials say the museum will generate more than $6-million yearly for the local economy. They expect as many as 140,000 visitors yearly will come through the museum's doors when the move is completed
"Learning how things grow, leaning how gravity works, learning about dinosaurs, learning about the solar system. It's just all encompassing," said Tucker.
