WATERVILLE, Maine — The new exhibit hall at the Children's Discovery Museum of Central Maine in Waterville opened Thursday.
The museum opened more than 30 years ago with a mission to "ignite curiosity" and has had several locations over the years. However, it was forced to close its location in Augusta during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Executive Director Amarinda Keys said she and her team had a goal to find a bigger space.
“We’ve been working on this project for close to 10 years now, so to finally see all these ideas we’ve had in our heads and in our imaginations actually come to life now and be played with by families and kids, it’s very surreal," Keys enthused.
Keys said her team knew it was important to offer a safe, fun, and family-friendly space in the Waterville area, where Mainers can spend time with each other and connect with their neighbors. She explained it can also be a way to attract new victors to the area.
The new space is modeled after Maine, with different "zones" of activities representing the state's natural beauty and essential state industries like farming and mills, Keys explained.
Besides the exhibits, the museum will continue to offer programs like kids' camps, performances, and other events.
Assistant Director Emily Bessey said she's happy to be able to provide "non-screen related" ways for kids to have fun.
“I think kids have an inherent need to play and look for opportunities to exercise that imagination muscle," she added. “We set the stage for them, and they come and create whatever is happening in their imagination.”
Keys went on to say the project wouldn't have been possible without the outpouring of support from community members and local businesses.
While the exhibit hall opened Thursday morning, it will never be complete as museum leaders intend to continue changing things up, so there's something new every time you visit.
The space will be open Thursday through Sunday during the summer and then expand its hours in the fall.
It will also continue to host special programs and performances as well. You can find the hours of operation and a full list of events here.