MANKATO, Minn -
After a successful first week in the new interim location, the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota will now have extended hours of operation.
It's something Ken Watson says him and his children will be taking advantage of, "I got myself a membership now, so we will be coming here obviously whenever they are open."
Sandra Pettis who brought her grand kids to the museum says, "I think is just a really great thing for the kids to be able to do that and come and play and explore and enjoy."
In the first week the Museum was open, it hosted over 300 visitors and sold over 50 family memberships.
This temporary location serves as a starting point to develop exhibits for a permanent Children's Museum in Mankato and an opportunity to engage and get ideas from the community.
Pettis says, "They have a lot people here today and they are really enjoying themselves, but a bigger space would be great for the whole community."
Luckily for Pettis and her grand kids, the museum's hours of operation are not the only thing growing.
Museum Community Impact Coordinator Sue Larsen says, "We do have a great space now, we do have room downstairs to move and grow and we are hoping to do that real soon. So days like today there will be plenty of space and opportunity for kids to move around."
Each week the museum hopes to grow it's exhibits and grow in the current space, with hopes of making a permanent museum a reality.
Larsen says, "Our mission and vision is to really have a place where families can come, where children can experience hands on self directed learning to really spark their imaginations and their interests."
The interim facility is on Cherry Street across from Earl Johnson Furniture.
Beginning February 20th, the Children's Museum will be open:
Wednesdays 9am-1pm
Thursdays 9am-5pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sundays 11am-5pm
School Closed Holidays 9am-1pm
Until then, the current hours sill apply:
Wednesdays 9am-12pm
Thursdays 9am-12pm
Saturdays 9am-3pm
