Join the Club!

Recently our family was invited to be among the first to view the Missouri History Museum's latest endeavor, History Clubhouse: Let's Build It.  The idea behind the FREE exhibit is to invite families with young children to visit this "gallery-in-the-making" between now and October, 6, 2014 to be a part of the process in developing a fun and engaging permanent children's gallery set to re-open in 2015. 

From the Missouri History Museum web: The Let’s Build It! gallery is open during regular Museum hours.  We expect high attendance during our Let’s Build the History Clubhouse weekends. To ensure that everyone has a quality experience, we are implementing a timed-entry system during those weekends. Upon arrival, families must get FREE tickets for a 45-minute session in History Clubhouse: Let’s Build It! Sessions will begin 15 minutes past each hour, and tickets will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. On those weekends, members have a special opportunity to visit from 9 to 10 am on Saturdays prior to the Museum opening.    

Additionally, your family photos could be part of the History Clubhouse as the museum plans to feature five area places that families enjoy: Cahokia Mounds, The Mississippi River, Soulard Market, Forest Park and Downtown St. Louis.  If your family has visited any of these places—whether it was yesterday, last summer, or 30 years ago— bring in your photos to hang in the gallery. You may also email your photos to letsbuildit@mohistory.org, and they will display them for you.

Finally, the museum is holding an art contest for kids. Ten winning masterpieces will be enlarged to gigantic proportions and hung on the Missouri History Museum building for all to see in 2015! Kids are asked to draw, color, or paint their favorite St. Louis places. Families must use the designated museum template and return entries to the museum before October 5. Templates are available at the information desks.

Dramatic play galore

Natalie's friend, Ava, plays a few Native American games.

The curtained area is a space for kids who may need a sensory break.

 





Puppet theatre - always a hit

Books, puzzles and more!

Voting Area
The Museum asks kids to vote on what they would like to see in the permanent exhibit.

Historically Fun

"I'm gonna miss this place," said Natalie

And, I had to agree.

For the past four weeks, Natalie and I have had so many wonderful adventures together.  We took a ride on a horse-drawn carriage.  We explored up to our elbows with containers of polymer crystals, rice and oats.  We discovered half a dozen ways to play with tree gum balls, pipe cleaners and modeling clay. We took a ride in a pretend hot air balloon fashioned from a laundry basket and an extra large helium balloon. We dressed up in fancy hats and crowns.  We pretended to pack for a trip to the World's Fair and decorated a paper parasol and top hat.  We learned about other cultures - from Japan to Africa.  I never would have guessed we could do all of these things and MORE... under one roof... and for only $20 bucks for four - 2 hour sessions.

Although The Missouri History Museum has been offering "Parent & Me" classes for years, until last month, I had never heard of them.  I guess I had stereotyped the museum to be a stuffy place for retirees to hang out and meander through the displays. I never imagined it could be a place where young children would be welcomed to learn and explore, too.  I'm so happy my friend, Ritika, shared this "best kept secret" with me...so I can blab all about it -- to YOU!

Not only is the museum beautiful and well maintained, but the folks who work there, absolutely LOVE their jobs as evidenced by their warmth and enthusiasm for teaching kids about days gone by.  Whether we painted or pretended to be animals -- they got down on their knees and got dirty, too.  They listened and encouraged and invited questions from all the children. They even took pictures and developed them and then provided all the materials for us to make and take home a keepsake photo album to enjoy.

If you are interested in learning more about The Missouri History Museum, call or visit their website  . In addition to the Parent & Me courses, they offer lots of other family-friendly events like storytelling, family tours, gallery activities and Twilight Tuesdays.  The best part is that many of these offerings are completely FREE of charge.

Nat and Kiran take a ride.

Caring for balloon animals.

Nat cares for her baby elephants.

The girls loved the polymer crystal sensory area the best.

Nat makes an American Mommy and baby ghost from clay 

Throughout the sessions - they took pictures and asked the kids questions and created story boards. 

So many pipecleaners...so little time!

We learned about the 1st Olympics held in St. Louis. Nat shows off her mad weightlifting skills. 

Kids just wanna have fun!