The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry is a local, private nonprofit organization founded by Anne Darby Parker in 2003. Its mission is to engage the imagination + curiosity of young children through play. Since its opening, the museum has served over 1.7 million children and their families.
For the last eight weeks, the museum found a temporary home at The Citadel Mall as its historic downtown location (25 Ann St.) underwent $550,000 of renovations.
Our team met with director Nichole Myles to learn more about the current upgrades + upcoming exhibits– and we may have had some fun playing in their bilingual Publix market.
Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry’s new ceilings and track lighting | Photo by Leigh Webber via Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
The extensive renovations mostly included deferred maintenance projects– which means they may not be immediately apparent when you walk through the doors– but it’s just the beginning of the museum’s future plans.
Recent renovations
- Ceilings. Encapsulated, drywalled ceilings have been added. They were painted white to help with insulation + brighten the space.
- The roof has been sealed on the 420 ft. long building to prevent leaks.
- Upgraded walls. Previously, the walls of the old freight building displayed exposed railroad ties.Upgraded floors. The cement floors have been upgraded and sealed with an epoxy– by the staff themselves.
- Bathrooms. The two bathrooms are now more accessible, the decor has been upgraded, and anti-pinch technology has been added to the doors– keeping little fingers in mind.
- HVAC. A new, much more efficient, HVAC system has been added.
- Lighting. The museum was able to decrease the number of lights needed by upgrading its track lighting to LED and utilizing the white ceiling paint to add more light with less energy.
- Exterior. An old shed building, which stood between the museum and the William Aiken House + was in poor condition, has been removed. This was a large project due to the fact that the shed stood between two historic buildings. A future play pavilion + outdoor exhibits will be built in that space.
- Waterwise. The Waterwise exhibit received a fresh coat of paint.
Upgraded Waterwise exhibit | Photo by Leigh Webber via Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
Upcoming exhibits in the works
- Outdoor pavilion. An outdoor play pavilion will be added next to the museum, which will include a temperature controlled space and indoor/outdoor exhibits.
- Wadda Wadda Island. An outdoor water exhibit.
- Port Go Go Go. An exhibit all about working at the ports. Children will be able to move “freight” balls through a container truck wall, through sorting + sending machines, and into a boat. The balls will then land in a ball lagoon outside.
- Earth and space. This future exhibit will be one of the first certified Fab Labs in the country and the first in the Southeast. Children will be able to use real equipment, such as 3D printers to craft projects.
- Speak Loud Studio. A Spoleto Festival-inspired performing arts room complete with a stage. Children will have the opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes parts of a show– including lighting, storyboards, makeup, + more.
- Don’t touch the floor. An interactive space where the floor can become lava, water, or air– in which children can use props to move across the room without touching the floor.
Additionally, the museum also hosts camps during spring break + summer, special events + programs, and evening events for adults.
Which exhibit are you excited to experience firsthand at Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry?
Let us know in the comments below.