When does the new children’s museum open?

[Anonymous]

Looks like it's now opening in February.... I don't see this ending up well for anyone who pre bought memberships.
https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/

[Anonymous]

This thing has become a joke at this point. It went from
1) opening this holiday season
2) opening end of January
3) opening in February
Will be surprised if it's open in the summer by this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thing has become a joke at this point. It went from
1) opening this holiday season
2) opening end of January
3) opening in February
Will be surprised if it's open in the summer by this point.

It was actually originally advertised as opening in September, then there was going to be an event in November to mark the opening... what a mess.

[Anonymous]

Website now saying February 2020.

[Anonymous]

It's February!

Still not open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When it was at National Harbor, it was such a mess. I'm disappointed that it hasn't improved in organization and transparency. I've given up hope that my children will ever have have a quality children's museum in DC during their childhood.

Yep. Mine are too old for something like that now.

Same here.

The odd thing, how hard is it to put together a kids' museum? Like similar kids' museums, you get corporate sponsors involved to reduce costs, there are tons of big spaces near Dulles, and this area is full of smart people who would excel as museum staff/educators/provide sound leadership.

[Anonymous]

Is it open yet? Inlaws have been wanting to go to the museum since last summer and I have to keep telling them I think it’s not open despite what the internet says.

[Anonymous]

Website still saying February. It’s so odd they already had a grand opening party

[Anonymous]

I just don't see how something like this can be viable with the cost of space right downtown. Any quality children's museum needs a ton of square footage.

They should have gone for a giant facility out near Dulles air and space museum.

It is embarrassing that Dc doesn't have a children's museum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like it's now opening in February.... I don't see this ending up well for anyone who pre bought memberships.
https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/

NP. So they sold memberships in advance to fund it?

If I were one of those members, or just had a young kid, I'd drop an email to the Post reporter who covers museums/DC local news, or to the local TV stations, and outline how the opening date keeps moving and promises don't seem to be kept. Something's going on, whether it's merely an organization of inexperienced leadership that bit off way more than they could chew, or something more concerning. I'd wonder if the contractor bills were all paid or not, if the building had issues that they're having difficulty fixing (safety concerns?), if the problem is staffing or...what. Sounds like it's time for the Post or one of the TV news crews to ask what's going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like it's now opening in February.... I don't see this ending up well for anyone who pre bought memberships.
https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/

NP. So they sold memberships in advance to fund it?

If I were one of those members, or just had a young kid, I'd drop an email to the Post reporter who covers museums/DC local news, or to the local TV stations, and outline how the opening date keeps moving and promises don't seem to be kept. Something's going on, whether it's merely an organization of inexperienced leadership that bit off way more than they could chew, or something more concerning. I'd wonder if the contractor bills were all paid or not, if the building had issues that they're having difficulty fixing (safety concerns?), if the problem is staffing or...what. Sounds like it's time for the Post or one of the TV news crews to ask what's going on.

Petula Dvorak, are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Is there not a contact person anyone can reach out to? A director etc. that seems so suspicious.Has anyone prepaid for a membership - are you all at least getting updates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how something like this can be viable with the cost of space right downtown. Any quality children's museum needs a ton of square footage.

They should have gone for a giant facility out near Dulles air and space museum.

It is embarrassing that Dc doesn't have a children's museum.

They don’t have an aquarium either. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thing has become a joke at this point. It went from
1) opening this holiday season
2) opening end of January
3) opening in February
Will be surprised if it's open in the summer by this point.

It was actually originally advertised as opening in September, then there was going to be an event in November to mark the opening... what a mess.

+1. It was supposed to be Fall 2019.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought junior league was running it or something - there was probably a volunteer that built that site years ago and is long gone.

that's the children's science center, which i think has less of a chance coming to a fruition. They've been working on that for maybe 15 years. i was a member of the junior league of NOVA 10 years ago and i thought they should have dropped it then.

the children's museum website now says opening in Feb. 2020.