Portland Children's Museum

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The Childrens Museum

Portland Children's Museum is a children's museum located in Portland's Washington Park, adjacent to the Oregon Zoo. Its exhibits and attractions are targeted towards children under 10 years old. Approximately 1/4 million people visit the 50,000 square feet (5,000 m²) museum each year. As of today, the Portland Children's Museum is the sixth oldest children's museum in the United States.

[edit] History

In 1949, Dorothea Lensch, Recreation Director for Portland Parks & Recreation, founded the Portland Children's Museum.

The first museum building was located at the Jacob Kamm mansion in Southwest Portland until 1950 when it moved to a building (formerly a dormitory) just south of downtown Portland. The museum contained a pet library (similar to a library, except this one rented pet animals), history exhibits, craft shows, and other exhibits.

After 51 years of occupancy at the downtown location, the building was closed on March 31, 2001, and Portland Children's Museum moved to its current location, a building previously housed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry building, across from the Oregon Zoo. Buildings at this location date back to 1957, however, during this transition many of the buildings were remodeled.