After operating as a “museum without walls” for more than 12 years, The Bronx Children’s Museum has finally found a permanent home in the South Bronx. Located near Yankee Stadium, along the Harlem River, The Bronx Children’s Museum is set to officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 3.

 

A long-awaited, ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, Nov. 16, in celebration of the opening of the museum’s opening. The Bronx Children’s Museum is the first ever children’s museum in The Bronx, and event organizers estimate they will engage with 24,000 children at the facility during its first year.

 

The opening ceremony featured several speakers, including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, former Bronx borough presidents, Ruben Diaz Jr. and Adolfo Carrión Jr.., the latter the current commissioner of NYC Department of Housing, Preservation & Development (HPD), along with various officials who played key roles in the founding of the museum.

 

“The Bronx Children’s Museum will truly serve as a beacon of hope and opportunity, a space of artistic expression of culture, of education, all coming together,” said Gibson, a longtime supporter of the museum since her days as a city council member in District 16. “I am so proud that this date is finally here because of all the work,” she added.

 

The museum is geared toward children who range in age from infancy through fourth grade and is located just steps away from the Bronx Terminal Market and the future site of the Universal Hip-Hop Museum, part of the multi-million-dollar Bronx Point development. Several lucky children in attendance for the opening ceremony were able to see, ahead of the public, what the museum has to offer.

 

Hope Harley, founding president of the Bronx Children’s Museum, who now serves on its board of directors, said of the occasion, “I didn’t even envision this. I had no vision of what this would look like.” She added, “I just knew that we needed to create a museum for the children of The Bronx. “Every time I come in here, I cry, but tears of joy.”

 

The Bronx Children’s Museum features site-specific art installations and interactive exhibits allowing families to play, learn and connect to The Bronx. The 13,000 square-foot facility has numerous exhibits including The Waterways, The Woods, The Block, The Nest, The Turret Gallery, and Sonia’s Corner.

 

The Waterways mimics the look, feel, and function of Bronx waterways like the Bronx River, the Harlem River, and Orchard Beach. The Block is a miniature replica of a local neighborhood, complete with a community garden and various store fronts. The Nest targets children aged 0 to 3 years of age and their caregivers, where infants and toddlers can develop their motor skills through crawling and sorting objects.

 

The Woods allows children to discover and observe a variety of animals and plants through a microscope, while the Turret Gallery allows children to climb and crawl in an interactive space that features artwork from the children attending the museum’s afterschool program.

 

Sonia’s Corner is named in honor of both U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Bronx native, the Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, another longtime supporter of the museum, and Bronx native actor and writer, Sonia Manzano. Manzano played Maria on Sesame Street. Sonia’s Corner features a collection of children’s books and family-friendly resources.

 

“It’s all about the children seeing, touching, experiencing, and really exploring,” said Arlene Bascom, current president of the museum, who also serves on its board of directors. The facility also includes twelve fine art installations created by Bronx-connected artists, theme-based areas, and interactive activities.

 

Diana Ayala, District 8 city council member and deputy speaker, said of the museum, “The fact that our children don’t have to leave their place of residence to visit something so beautiful is really something that I’m proud to be a part of.”

 

The cultural institution was founded in 2005 and since 2010, has engaged more than 124,000 children and families according to the event organizers. “Imagine what our children will ascend to when they have institutions like this,” said Laurie Cumbo, commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. “That’s why this institution is so important and perfect at this moment.”

 

The museum was previously mobile and the iconic purple school bus became a roving learning environment and the museum’s most popular program. It was forced to shut down the “Museum On the Go” due to the pandemic. The opening of the facility had been delayed multiple times due to various funding issues. It was supposed to be open in July 2022 but failed to acquire a temporary certificate of occupancy in time.

 

In the meantime, the museum secured funding from the City for a new bus that is expected to be ready for road in 2025. As reported, a fundraising gala was also held over the summer and attended by Valerie Washington and The View’s Sunny Hostin.

 

Gibson went on to say of the opening, “This project will give The Bronx a cultural resource center dedicated to providing our children an opportunity to dream big, express themselves, and aspire to be whatever they want to be.”

 

The space is shared with the City’s Parks department. Parks commissioner, Sue Donoghue, who also spoke during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, said, “We’re advancing equity and education, giving kids in The Bronx the Museum space they deserve. This museum is a partner of ours both literally and in spirit.”

 

For now, the museum will only be open three days a week. That may change as the institution secures additional funding in the future. Admission will be completely free for the first four to six months and thereafter, tickets will be priced at $8 for both adults and children. Children under 12 months have free admission.

 

BronxNet’s Gary Axelbank was also present on the day of the museum’s opening. His report on the event can be watched here.

 

The museum is located at 725 exterior street on the second floor of the 1925 powerhouse in Mill Pond Park. Tickets are available now and more information can be found at https://www.bronxchildrensmuseum.org/old-home.