The Bronx Children's Museum is finally home. The museum that is all about the Bronx, its environment, people and culture has moved to a nearly century-old historic powerhouse building along the Harlem River in Mill Pond Park.
The museum opened to the public in December, after more than a dozen years providing virtual programming around the borough.
What You Need To Know
- The Bronx Children's Museum moved into its permanent home in December
- It is located along the Harlem River in a nearly century-old powerhouse building that was used for the Bronx Terminal Market
- The museum has provided programming virtually for 13 years at schools, parks and festivals throughout the Bronx
- The museum features artwork from 14 artists who are either from the Bronx or have ties to the borough
"It's unbelievably wonderful, not just for us, for the staff that for years has developed it, but for the children, the families who have been asking us for years, 'When are you going to open?'" said Carla Precht, the founding executive director of the museum.
Popular features inside the museum include a water play area that teaches about the city's water system and the waterways around the Bronx. There are live animals, like fish found in the Long Island Sound, a snake and turtles.
There is also plenty of art. Work from 14 different artists, either from the Bronx or with ties to the borough, can be found on the walls. Precht calls the museum a multicultural space that reflects the residents of the diverse borough.
"It was actually one of the most important things to us, is to make sure everybody felt included and welcome," Precht said.
There's also a room for some peace and quiet for families, named for two of the museum's ardent supporters, Bronx natives Sonia Manzano, who played Maria on Sesame Street for more than 40 years, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
While having the space is a big deal for the museum, it will still provide programming at schools, festivals and parks around the Bronx. One of the goals is to show families what the Bronx has to offer, so they will go check it out.
"Here, you will see many different examples of what we find extraordinary and worth going to visit or explore more," Precht said.
The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Advanced registration is required. Find out more on its website.