Our History
1999
Outreach programs reached 11,400 children in two years with Stuffee, an African Village, and programs about water quality and American songs and folklore
2000
Hired our first Executive Director.
2001
Located and renovated the Museum’s pilot location.
August 12, 2001
Grand Opening of the first Museum with featured exhibits like a water table, a “be a drop of water in the water cycle” climbing structure, and a lighthouse.
2002
Funday Sunday family program began, offering special programs like cartooning, an instrument petting zoo, watercolor painting, felting, and dance.
2003
First Children’s Art Fair for young artists was held on the lawn at the pilot location. Currently, the Museum offers a Children’s Art Fair during Traverse City’s Friday Night Live.
2004
100,000th visitor came through the doors.
2005
Destination Mars national traveling exhibit helped visitors to understand the Red Planet. The Front Street location closed in preparation for the Museum’s move to donated land in Greilickville. Local businesses donated materials and labor to renovate the Greilickville building. The Mr. Rogers exhibit in partnership with Dennos Museum kept the wonder alive during the renovation.
2006
Grand Reopening in new location with new water table.
2007
Toddler Time program for youngest visitors began.
2008
Jump to Japan touring exhibit was on display in Con Foster Museum.
2009
Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes was unveiled.
2010
250,000th visitor came through the doors.
August 12, 2011
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum turned 10 years old!
July 2, 2014
Attendance record – 724 attended on a cold, rainy day.
July 15, 2014
Attendance record – 804 attended on a cold, rainy day.
August 12, 2014
924 turned out for the Museum’s 13th birthday… (OR… the rain and cold made for another record attendance day).
September 26, 2014
Building Bridges exhibit opened
December 3, 2014
Shore Prints exhibit opened.
February 2015
Let’s Go Sailing exhibit opened.
June 2015
The Hatchery exhibit opened.
July 2015
Phase I of Guardians of the Great Lakes exhibit opened.
December 2015
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum collaborates with the Northern Michigan Railroad Club and the City of Traverse City in the annual Festival of Trains.
February 2016
The Museum offers a Daddy & Daughter Sweetheart Dance – 50 dads and their daughters attend
June 2016
Guardians Phase II was completed, Mini-Mac opened to the public, the Museum hosts the 455,000th guest
November 2016
The first three of seven upgrades were completed on the Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters with the help of volunteers from the Maritime Heritage Alliance
January 2017
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum joins forces with the Great Start Readiness Collaborative and launches a recurring free 5toOne Playgroup
August 2017
The Children’s Museum joins forces with Everybody Reads
July 2018
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum opens the new Cherry Exhibit.
March 16, 2020
The Museum is temporarily closed due to Covid-19.
July 2020
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum adapts to the changing needs of our members due to Covid-19 and begins offering virtual programming, including Kids Craft Live, StoryTime Adventures and First Steps Science.
August 2020
The Museum kicks off the Covid-Conscious Mobile Museum series.