A regional children’s museum is one step closer to becoming a reality with state funding and an initial road map in hand, though a location has not yet been firmed up.

The Mid-Columbia Children’s Museum recently shared preliminary renderings and feasibility findings showcasing spaces full of fun and focused on local industries with its donors, early supporters and industry leaders, 

The response was positive, said Chelsea Blair, MCCM’s board president. “People were really excited about the representation of local industry,” she said, from Hanford to energy exhibits to agricultural elements. 

With a growing need for workforce development, industry leaders were pleased to “have a place where kids can see themselves in those careers in the future,” Blair said. 

The Mid-Columbia Children’s Museum is one step closer to becoming a reality thanks to state funding, a feasibility study and renderings.

| Courtesy FRAME Integrative Design Strategies and Pacific Northwest Children’s Museum Collaborative

Dreaming a museum

The renderings, created by FRAME Integrative Design Strategies in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Children’s Museum Collaborative, also can help show Tri-Citians what a children’s museum looks like. 

Throughout her conversations with community members, Blair has found that many people have never been to a children’s museum and may misunderstand what it is.

“The word ‘museum’ in children’s museum is kind of a misnomer. ... Nothing’s behind glass, nothing is out of boundaries. You can, as a child, explore anything you want and play in any way you want,” she said. “…They’re built to be played with and explored in a learning capacity.”

The feasibility study has helped pin down a few elements, too. The study took a look at comparable children’s museums to plan operational budgets, flow and programming. 

Mid-Columbia Children’s Museum plans to focus on serving children ages 2 to 10, with some programming outside of that age range.

Talking with other organizations in the area has helped the museum to figure out what kinds of programming are already covered in the region, like story times, which local libraries already do well. The museum will aim to fill in the missing gaps with activities like summer camps, after-school care, birthday parties and event space. 

“We really planned all of those things around what our community needs but also making it so that it’s a sustainable business model,” Blair said. “…It has a lot of different potential as a facility to serve the community in many different ways.” 

The Mid-Columbia Children’s Museum plans to represent local industry in its spaces, giving kids a place to explore and see themselves in future careers.

| Courtesy FRAME Integrative Design Strategies and Pacific Northwest Children’s Museum Collaborative

Next steps 

The renderings show the dream of what the children’s museum could be, Blair said. Now, the next steps will be more concrete.

An allocation of $1 million in Washington’s capital budget will help the museum solidify its plans. The funding will go toward pre-concept and schematic design, which will focus on exhibits and what’s inside the museum. 

The funds cover about 70% of the cost of that planning phase, and the rest will still need to be funded through private donors and grants.

But before moving into concept design, museum officials want to lock down a location. Blair said the group will be meeting with municipal, port and county officials in the coming months about proposed locations.

In February, the group was looking at three sites in particular: one by Columbia Park West in Richland, near the Reach museum; another is at Bradley Landing in Richland along the waterfront; and the third is in the Road 100 area of Pasco, near the future aquatic center.

Until the museum has a location set, the building itself can’t be designed, Blair said.