Great River Children’s Museum Updates St. Cloud Council On Construction Progress

(KNSI) – When construction wraps up in early 2025, the Great River Children’s Museum will be the second largest of its kind in Minnesota.

Executive Director Cassie Miles updated the St. Cloud City Council on the progress being made. Some of the highlights will include a three-story atrium simulating the clouds and weather, a rooftop patio, and a projected sky on the ceiling of the headwaters exhibit.

The museum will feature eight exhibits, all proudly representing the area. She says that fact may surprise guests the first time they walk through the door, though another feature might steal the show. “Our Meet Your Neighbor stations are really simplistic and very cool. The idea that you can be featured in a museum exhibit and that strangers can get to know you a little bit. For me, that’s just a unique connection point that we have in our space.”

Out-of-town visitors are expected to spend $31 per person in the community at restaurants and businesses each time they come to the museum.

“When we had the pleasure of having a traveling exhibit in our space before we started demolition work, a lot of our traffic actually was from the Twin Cities or south of the Twin Cities, and I equate that to the fact that they’re used to having this sort of resource so they understand how fun it is,” said Miles.

She wants local, rural communities to get hooked, too and is ready to make the pitch as opening day gets closer. Visitors from central Minnesota would average around $17 per person in spending in St. Cloud on days they are at the museum.

The museum will be located in the former Liberty Bank building on 7th Avenue South but the entrance will be from the Canoe Lot, closer to 8th.

Miles also wants to let people know that while work is ongoing, the stores immediately around the construction zone are open. She thanked Fitzharris and Hour Glass Cleaners for being welcoming, even at the risk of near-term sales losses.

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