NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Louisiana Children’s Museum’s (LCM) beloved Warehouse District location will shut its Big Blue Doors for the last time at the end of the day on Saturday, July 27, leading up to the highly-anticipated grand opening of the new location at 15 Henry Thomas Drive in New Orleans City Park on Saturday, August 31 at noon.
Since 1986, the Julia Street location has been a mainstay for both local and visiting families. The museum has celebrated generations of childhood experiences, launched numerous careers and made many joyous connections at their location at 420 Julia Street in New Orleans’ Warehouse District. Each year, they’ve welcomed approximately 147,000 visitors, engaging children, families, caregivers, and school groups in memorable interactive experiences designed to make learning fun.
“The museum on Julia Street represents cherished memories for so many and we encourage all to take a final nostalgic visit before July 27,” said Julia Bland, chief executive officer of LCM. “One aspect we have particularly loved in recent years is welcoming parents who came to the museum as young children themselves, now returning to share their childhood memories with their own children. Closing the doors at Julia Street is going to be bittersweet, but we know our new site will continue to create memories and educate while providing even greater access and opportunities to the community.”
Many of the iconic components of the Julia Street location will be reflected in the new museum. The “VestiBlue” will be a nod to the big blue doors on Julia Street, marking the main entrance to the museum and the threshold to the interactive experiences that await. Treasured heirloom exhibits like the much-loved lil’ grocery store and bubbles will be reimagined.
Nestled on a lush and beautiful 8.5-acre site in City Park, the new museum will feature five interactive, educational exhibits for children and families focused on literacy, health and wellness, environmental education, and arts and culture. In addition to the indoor galleries, the museum will include a literacy center, a parent-teacher resource center, Acorn, A Dickie Brennan & Co. Café; and outdoor environmental elements. The LCM building is designed for LEED Silver certification.
“The new location will allow us to better meet the needs of the community as well as improve geographic access and connect children to nature in a way we haven’t been able to before,” said Bland. “We are confident that the new LCM will provide even more resources to every child–and parent–who walks through our doors.”
With a vision to reimagine its community role and address child development in a more holistic manner through a multi-generation approach, LCM began planning their expansion and move to New Orleans City Park in 2006. Now, 13 years later, that dream will soon become a reality.
Louisiana Children’s Museum at City Park will officially open its doors to the public at noon on Saturday, August 31, welcoming families from all over. The grand opening celebrations will continue all weekend and conclude on Labor Day when the museum will resume with regular operating hours. In addition to year-round admission, members will have the opportunity to get an exclusive preview of LCM’s new facility in the days preceding the opening. To sign up for a membership today visit www.lcm.org.
