Louisiana Children’s Museum at City Park to Open Doors to Public Saturday Aug. 31

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) will officially open the doors in New Orleans City Park at 15 Henry Thomas Drive at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31 and will stay open until 7:30 p.m. Admission will be free and will only be available to those who have reserved tickets online in advance on opening day. The long awaited $47.5 million state-of-the-art facility will serve as a fun and experiential learning environment for children and families in the region and beyond.

Before the museum opens to the public on Saturday, there will be an official opening ceremony with special guests including John Bel Edwards, who will presented with a giant key by children to “unlock the fun” to the new museum; Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Senator JP Morrell. Plus, performances by the Trombone Shorty Music Academy and John “Papa” Gros.

“I’ve been a longtime supporter of the Louisiana Children’s Museum and their efforts to bring better early childhood development to our city and state. Early childhood development is an extremely important element of the future – the economic, educational, physical and emotional health – of our city and state’s next generation,” said JP Morrell, Louisiana State Senator and LCM Board Member.

The museum began construction at its new site in May 2017 after 33 years at the beloved Julia Street location in New Orleans’ Warehouse District, which closed its Big Blue Doors at the end of July. The new museum campus is nestled on a beautiful 8.5-acre site in City Park and boasts a modern and contemporary design filled with light and glass, taking full advantage of the natural park setting.

The museum will feature five interactive, educational exhibits for children and families focused on literacy, health and wellness, environmental education, and arts and culture including Play with Me; Follow That Food; Dig Into Nature; Make Your Mark, and Flow with The River. Favorites from the Warehouse District location, such as the Grocery Store and the Bubbles, have been reestablished and re-imagined. Other new museum additions will include a life-sized interactive checkers board, which will celebrate our culture as we hear distinctive sounds from every New Orleans neighborhood and a 100-foot long mighty Mississippi water exhibit which tells the story of the journey of the River from the Twin Cities, through twists and turns all the way to the Port of New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.

The LCM building is designed for LEED Silver certification. The design of the building was spearheaded by Seattle-based Mithūn, a leader in sustainable architecture, and supported locally by Waggoner & Ball. The exhibits were designed by California firm, Gyroscope, Inc. and fabricated by Kubik Maltbie.

“We are thrilled to have the addition of the Louisiana Children’s Museum at City Park to add to our offerings and attract even more locals and visitors to the park,” said Bob Becker, CEO, City Park. “The museum is truly an asset to the park – not only adding the first LEED-certified building on our grounds, but also taking steps to preserve and add to the diverse landscape and ecosystem.”

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 including decks, bridges, sensory and edible gardens, a floating classroom and a restorative, interpretive wetlands.

On Sunday, September 1 and Monday, September 2, the museum will have extended hours from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Tuesday, September 3, the museum will return to its normal operating hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. with general admission tickets costing $14 per person for adults and children 12 months and older.

About LCM in City Park

LCM at City Park in New Orleans offers five indoor exhibit galleries, as well as a literacy center, a parent teacher resource center, museum store, and Acorn Café. Outdoor environmental elements include decks, bridges, sensory and edible gardens, a floating classroom and a restored interpretive wetlands area. The museum is the primary resource in the State of Louisiana developed specifically for young children and their families that is open to the public. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. General admission is $14 per person for adults and children 12 months and older. Special rates and free admission are available to specific groups, and LCM members receive free general admission. Visit lcm.org to learn more about the LCM or call 504-523-1357.

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