Discovery Depot Executive Director Denise Bradburn told the Galesburg Tourism Council today that the children’s museum has raised nearly 60 percent of a $1.5 million capital campaign to expand and renovate the building.
Bradburn says construction has already begun on a water room in what is currently a garage attachment.
“That area is gonna be 750 square feet of water exhibits,” she says, “which will make us one of the largest water exhibit features in a children’s museum outside of Chicago children’s museums. So it will put us in quite the destination category.”
The water exhibit area will include what Bradburn calls a “science learning lab.” She says water attractions are the number one draw to children’s museums and the number one reason for repeat visits.
Also discussed at the meeting was a $10,000 matching grant for the Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association. Tourism Director Bill Morris, who is a member of the association, says the Galesburg Community Foundation grant will mean a $20,000 endowment for the association.
“We have until the end of June to raise $10,000,” Morris says.
So far, the Carl Sandburg Historic Site Association has raised about $7,000.
