One of the neat things about Children’s Museums around the country (& the world!) is that they often reflect and celebrate the community around them. For instance, the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh has an industrial aesthetic just like the city, and they even have real Andy Warhol paintings on display! The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has an entire exhibit about the Cocheco River, which guests can see by looking out the exhibit windows.
As we put together the new exhibit design and program plans, we hope that we can celebrate the diverse and rich beauty and culture of our wonderful state. As we share more about our exhibit design, you’ll see this theme of Maine, especially in the four distinct zones we are creating; The Mill, Rural, City, and River are all inspired by this beautiful state of Maine!
In the early stages of the museum design, we hosted a focus group of folks from the area, asking them questions about their home. A culture of "making”, lakes, the Kennebec River, “can-do” spirit, taking risks, and valuing the land were themes that quickly popped up. We have also been inspired by iconic manufacturing mills, an entrepreneurial spirit, the rich wooded landscape, and the small-town feel of a downtown.
When you think about Central Maine, what comes to mind for you? What are your favorite things about where you live?
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