The Smith Center – A Year in the Arts: Children’s museum offers illumination

“Everything old is new again” goes the expression. So it is with the 22-year-old Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, now in a new location with new exhibits and known as the Discovery Children’s Museum at the Donald W. Reynolds Discovery Center.

Seven years ago, a team of educators, Lied museum trustees and staff began planning for an updated interactive museum for children. At the time, the new location was unknown, but when the opportunity arose to occupy a leased space adjacent to the new Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Symphony Park, the dream of a bigger and better museum started to became a reality.

The total cost to build the Discovery Children’s Museum, furnish the building and construct new exhibits was $50 million. In August 2010, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation announced a gift to The Smith Center to pay for the completion of its block in Symphony Park. The Smith Center used $43 million from that gift to build the Donald W. Reynolds Discovery Center. The museum raised an additional $7 million to complete the project.

“After seven years of planning to become a more relevant resource for the community, the new exhibits and programs represent a modern approach to themed, hands-on learning experiences,” said Linda Quinn, Discovery Children’s Museum chief executive officer. “The museum’s core curriculum utilizes 21st century learning skills focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).”

Although the new museum was originally scheduled to open in November of 2012, construction delays pushed opening day to March 9.

The 58,000-square-foot, three-story museum includes eight exhibit halls in addition to a 70-foot learning exhibit called “The Summit,” encountered when entering the building. “The Summit” is described as “ a physical and intellectual challenge highlighting the connections between scientific concepts and real-life applications.”

The new exhibit halls include “Fantasy Festival,” a child-sized theater with a castle and pirate ship backdrop; “Eco City,” helping children discover the world around them while teaching them about sustainability; “Patents Pending,” inviting young minds to experiment and explore; “Toddler Town,” for children 6 months to 5 years of age; “Water World,” discovering the movement and power of water; “Solve It! Mystery Town,” offering clues to spark curiosity and investigative skills; “Young at Art,” offering creative art stations and interactive exhibits promoting creative expression; and “It’s Your Choice,” teaching healthful eating and lifestyle options.

All the exhibits have been designed for adults and children to experience together. Every child must be accompanied by an adult .

Denyce Tuller, director of marketing and public relations for the museum, noted that even if children had visited the Lied museum in its now-closed location, the museum in Symphony Park features all new exhibits and programming. (Exhibits from the former facility are going to a new start-up museum for children in St. George, Utah.)

Tuller estimated two to three visits will be necessary “to really experience all the (new) exhibits to their full extent.”

The Discovery Children’s Museum exhibits are designed for children from 6 months to 12 years of age. As at the Lied facility, space has been set aside for a refreshment area so that visitors can take a break for snacks (vending machines will be available), or families can enjoy lunches they bring with them. Food and beverages are not allowed in the exhibit halls.

Tuller said expectations are that the new museum will at least double the Lied museum’s fiscal 2012 attendance of 157,524. Free parking will be available in an adjacent parking garage and, if necessary, in The Smith Center East Lot.

Adults and children age 1 and older will pay a single admission price of $12 each. The former two-tier pricing was eliminated. The admission fee will be good for an entire day even if a parent and child visit in the morning, go out for lunch and return in the afternoon. Yearlong Family and Discovery Memberships for $125 and $175 also are available.

Winter museum hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 12 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The museum is closed Mondays.

“Typically the mornings in the winter are popular with what we call the ‘little learners,’ ” Tuller said. “And of course, we have lots of school groups visiting the museum as well. Our summer hours are the busiest.”

Summer hours, from June 1 through Labor Day (Sept. 2), will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 12 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, several special programs will be part of the museum calendar. The opening special exhibit is “Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon,” through May 15.

Museum members will learn about special events through a newsletter. The public can find information on the museum website, www.DiscoveryKidsLV.org.

“Once visitors are welcomed to the museum,” Tuller added, “frequent announcements will be made regarding any special events that day.”