Toys, noodle string necklaces, historical exhibits, science, stormtroopers, balloon flowers, face paint and more marked the reopening of the Detroit Children's Museum on a sunny Saturday, July 25.
The museum that now has more than 2.5 million historical objects, science materials and global treasures was established in 1917. It is owned by the Detroit Public Schools Community District, making it one of the only museums owned by a school district in the United States.
The museum closed to the public in 2012. The reopening comes after it received a $819,200 grant awarded to the DPSCD Foundation by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, according to a news release from the the school district. At a ribbon cutting Saturday, Superintendent
Dr. Nikolai Vitti said the district also invested $200,000 in the facilities and ADA compliance.
"There were so many things that were taken away from the city and the district under emergency management, and, fortunately, this treasure (the museum) has now been reopened," Vitti said. "It's a treasure to the city, to our kids and future generations and current generations."
Though the doors were closed to the public, the museum saw 64,000 student contacts during the 2024-2025 school year by loaning artifact kits and STEM materials to more than 60 schools, according to the news release.
From an obstacle course for dolls on remote-control Segway-like scooters and a life-size bear wearing a party hat to displays of the planets and a marine exploration space, the museum has a variety of appeals.
The opening day also included outdoor activities with a DJ, BBQ from Smoked Up Eats, free cookies kids could paint with frosting from Kookies By Keirsten, a T-Rex head displayed outside and more.
Kalaundra Hall, of Detroit, brought her three daughters ages 3-7 and her 10-year-old niece to the grand opening of the museum. She said she works for the schools and found out about the museum reopening on social media.
The museum can be a good place to bring kids for a learning experience that is out of the house, but not outside in the hot sun, Hall said. As her children and niece looked at doll displays and played in the museum Saturday, Hall said she'll likely bring them back in the future because one day isn't enough to see all the museum has to offer.
"I think people should come and experience it for themselves," Hall said. "I think it's an amazing place, and it's something that we need here in Detroit.
The museum will be open to DPSCD schools for field trips. The museum will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month.
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Over-century-old Detroit Children's Museum reopens to the public
