Brooklyn Children's Museum

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Coordinates: 40°40′28″N 73°56′38″W / 40.674474, -73.943802

Brooklyn Children's Museum
Established 1899
Location 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Website Brooklyn Children's Museum

Coordinates: 40°40′28″N 73°56′38″W / 40.674474, -73.943802

The Brooklyn Children's Museum is a general purpose museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, USA. Founded in 1899, it was the first museum in the United States and some believe, the world,[1] to cater specifically to children and is unique in its location, predominantly a residential area.[2] Housed in a multi-level underground gallery,[3] the museum is undergoing expansion and renovation to double its space, and it is scheduled to re-open in 2008 as the first green museum in New York City.

Contents

[edit] Exhibits

The museum's collection and exhibitions reflect its long history as well as the changes in children's educational needs over time and the changing environment.[2] Its original focus was the presentation of natural science to children raised in an urban environment, but following World War II, technology and cultural awareness became more important.[3] The underground gallery in which the museum was located following a 1975 move provided the ideal location for arranging evolving exhibits.[4] The museum was not intended to solely attract the interest of a young audience, but rather to engage their minds from a young age.[5]Children contribute extensively in the planning of museum exhibits, and have done so for a significant part of its history.[6][7]

[edit] History

 Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (March 2008)

The Museum was founded following a proposal from the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences (now the Brooklyn Museum) on December 16, 1899 in the Adams House.[5] The museum operated under the direction of the Brooklyn Institute and received approximately $70,000 in funds from New York City each year to supplement the donations it received. Attendance grew quickly, with monthly visitation exceeding 13,000 by October, 1905.[5]

In 1929, the museum opened the Smith House annex. Eleanor Roosevelt attended the ceremony.[citation needed] In 1930, the Works Progress Administration supplied hundreds of workers to the museum, which thrived in the Great Depression.[8] By October 1930, monthly visitation had reached 60,000[9] and by 1939, the museum had received move than 9 million visitors since it opened 40 years prior.[1]

In 1975, the museum moved to an award-winning new space, housed underneath Brower Park following the demolition of the Victorian houses that served as its prior home. [3] In 1996, the museum was once again renovated at a cost of $7 million to include miniature amphitheaters and a number of new galleries. [2] Two years later, it became a part of Heart of Brooklyn, a cultural partnership established to promote tourism to Brooklyn.[10]

In 2005, it was among 406 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.[11][12]

In the same year, work began on the $43 million dollar expansion that was to nearly double the size of the museum,[13] be the first green museum in New York City and handle more than 400,000 visitors each year.[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Laboratories of Patriotism. Time (1939-01-23). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  2. ^ a b c Jesus Rangel (1987-11-29). A Children's Museum Adjusts to a New Brooklyn. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  3. ^ a b c Andrew L. Yarrow (1989-10-13). New Children's Museum Joins 2 Old Favorites. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  4. ^ Sunday Outing; Museum is 90, but Young at Heart. The New York Times (1990-07-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  5. ^ a b c The Brooklyn Children's Museum Does Its Work. The New York Times (1905-11-12). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  6. ^ Anita Brenner (1942-10-04). A Museum Run for and by Children. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  7. ^ Curators Sought. The New York Times (1962-02-22). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  8. ^ Denslow (1939-01-08). Children Like Their Museums. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  9. ^ Brooklyn Children's Museum Wins Patrons With After-School Games in the Sciences. The New York Times (1930-12-07). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  10. ^ Simon Watson (2001-09). Heart of Brooklyn. Gotham Gazette. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  11. ^ Sam Roberts (2005-07-06). City Groups Get Bloomberg Gift of $20 Million. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  12. ^ Carnegie Corporation of New York Announces Twenty Million Dollars in New York City Grants. Carnegie Corporation of New York (2005-07-05). Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  13. ^ Children's Museum Marks Construction Progress of $43m Expansion. New York Beacon (2005-11-09). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  14. ^ Brooklyn Children's Museum Begins Expansion. New York Amsterdam News (2005-1-05). Retrieved on 2008-03-14.

[edit] External Links