From Chicks to Childhood Wonder: Former Hatchery Hatches New Life as Great River Children’s Museum

(KNSI) — A former chicken hatchery turned bank is now the Great River Children’s Museum, and while it will open June 10th with eight permanent exhibits from which to learn and play, there is also a blank space open for rotating fun.

A 1,500 square foot spot will tell the history of the building, according to Executive Director Cassie Miles. “We are creating our own first exhibit. It is an exhibit that’s interactive. We’re a children’s museum, so it’ll be built around play, but it tells the history of the space that we’re in. So we used to be a chicken hatchery way back in the 1930s and evolved into a bank and other things from there.”

The hatchery history is also built into the other exhibits. Miles says, “Jack Frost Hatchery had a little chick as part of their logo, and if you look carefully, you will find a little Jack hidden throughout our exhibits.”

It was named Jack Frost Hatchery because it was known for hearty chicks that could survive winter cold.

One thing Miles wants the public to know is that the 31,000 square foot museum is an inclusive space with a Museums for All program and a donor funded Path to Play with a $25,000 match from Stearns Bank. “That fund allows us to give us discounted access for field trip groups and families who need that kind of support, because we want everyone to come and play.”

Miles wants the museum to be a place that fuels a child’s imagination well before they are ever in a classroom. “My biggest message for everybody here is that if we can support our kids and families from birth, not wait for them to get to the public school system where services are a little bit easier to get to our children. If we can support our kids and families from birth, we will all be better off.”

Memberships are available to buy. General admission tickets are $14 and are timed entry. Learn more here.

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