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Highlands Children's Museum Plans Expansion

KATHY WATERS/HIGHLANDS TODAY

Linda Crowder, director of the Children's Museum of the Highlands, talks Wednesday about the plans for expansion. Crowder has preliminary drawings for the exhibits she plans to add.

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: December 13, 2007

SEBRING — When Linda Crowder started the Children's Museum of the Highlands about 17 years ago, she had big plans, but she never knew if they would pan out.

Now the museum director has more than exceeded the original dreams, and she is planning to continue upward - literally. The museum, located at 219 N. Ridgewood, has announced plans to build a second floor, doubling its space.

The additional 6,000 square feet of space will feature new exhibits, allow current exhibits to expand, provide another classroom for the expansion of the summer Discovery Camp and include additional bathrooms, storage, workrooms and offices.

"It's a very exciting project for us," Crowder said. "It's almost surreal and a little scary, but my mind just can't stop thinking of all the opportunities this will create."

She already has some plans for new exhibits –– a race track for Lego cars, an art room where kids play with messy crafts and a display that teaches children how to dial 911.

An exhibit about Florida history will teach visitors about the agriculture and citrus industries and possibly how to milk a cow. At the Go Green exhibit, children can learn about recycling and climb into a garbage truck to sort recyclable materials.

Many of the current exhibits will be expanded, like the One World Diner that opened in January and has become one of the museum's most popular play spots.

"I've always had ideas for expanding, but I've never had space to do it before," Crowder said.

The museum has set attendance records this year, with more than 20,000 visitors, who come from Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Okeechobee and Hendry counties.

"By October of this year, we already have had more visitors than we have had any other year," Crowder said. "And the county is only growing, so it makes it the perfect time to expand."

Brenda Coulter brings her two children to the museum at least once a week.

"They are always asking when we are going back," Coulter said. "They love painting their face, playing in the kitchen and the grocery store – they really love it all. … It will be really neat to see the expansion and more exhibits and things to do."

Ruth Rustin brought her great-granddaughter to the museum Wednesday morning and brings her grandchildren whenever they are in town.

"This is a great place for kids, and it's so great to have it right here in town," Rustin said. "The kids pretty much love all the exhibits in here, and they always have a great time."

Construction on the second floor will begin in August 2008 and is expected to be finished by January 2009. Crowder said she hopes construction will only close the museum about four to six weeks, and August is the museum's slowest time because schools do not typically take field trips early in the school year.

"I want to have the museum closed as little as possible," Crowder said. "After we get the new floor built, I'm hoping we can reopen the first level while they finish up construction upstairs."

Crowder said the expansion project will cost about $500,000, plus the cost of exhibits, and the museum is looking for sponsorships to make it possible. All donations are tax deductible.

Naming rights to the second floor will be sold for $500,000. The museum also is offering room sponsorships, for $20,000 a plaque with the name of the donor will permanently be displayed in the room.

For more information, contact the museum at 863-385-KIDS.

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