Children’s Museum Tucson Celebrates 40 Years

On July 18 the Children’s Museum Tucson celebrated its 40th anniversary by having a party for all the families of Tucson. Representatives from the mayor and governor’s offices read proclamations commending the museum for shaping young minds and recognizing children as the future. Visitors enjoyed popcorn, cotton candy, tie dying shirts, a band, a special photo booth, balloon artist and free take home activities as well as hands-on demonstrations such as weighing and measuring bat models to figure out what species of bats they were.

In 1986 the museum was incorporated, which means, “they signed some papers and said we want to be a museum” says Teresa Truelsen, Director of Communications. In 1987 the Children’s Museum opened its doors. In 1991 the museum moved to its current location on 200 S. 6th Avenue, which used to be the Carnegie Library.

One of the first exhibits at the museum was a dinosaur exhibit. Some of the older exhibits are still in the museum like the train, grocery store and the firetruck which originally was yellow. At one point the museum had a mascot—a dinosaur named Morris. 

The most recent exhibit added is Sense of Place which takes you on a tour around Tucson to places like Colossal Cave and Sabino Canyon. There is also a new light exhibit called Playing with Light. Fun Fact: you may think blue, yellow and red are the primary colors but they’re not! (Not when it comes to light.) Magenta, cyan and yellow are. I learned this fact with a light demonstration from Danel Hogan, Director of Education at the museum.

Kids can be hands-on while learning social skills such as getting along with other kids while playing. In addition to Sense of Place and Playing with Light, other exhibits that kids can explore around the museum are Bodyology, Electricity, Imagine it, Pet Vet, Whistle Stop, Curiosity courtyard, Gravity, Investigation Station, Wee World and Community Care.

Truelsen hopes that when kids visit the museum they have fun while learning. Check out their website at childrensmuseumtucson.org.  Special thanks to Teresa Truelsen for sharing the history, explaining the exhibits and the mission of the museum.