Address: 4015 Southwest Canyon Rd
Pricing: Age 1-54: $8, Over 55: $7, Under 1: Free
Phone: 503)223-6500
Hours: Open daily 9am-5pm
How To Get There:
From downtown Portland:
1. Head north on NW 6th Ave toward NW Couch St
2. Take the 1st left onto NW Couch St
3. Take the 1st left onto NW Broadway
4. Turn right at SW Jefferson St
5. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto SW Columbia St
6. Continue onto SW Jefferson St
7. Continue onto SW Canyon Rd
Destination will be on the right
By public transit:
Take the MAX Blue Line from downtown and get off at the Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson St. Station. Walk east toward the museum.
Parking:Lot parking is available
Visit Website
Portland Children’s Museum: An Imaginative and Educational Adventure
Apr 16, 2010
The Portland Children’s Museum imaginatively proves the point that museums can be both fun and educational. A day of fun awaits for families looking for a new experience. It can be a perfect respite for those needing to break away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland or parents wanting to bring a big smile to their kid’s face.
Founded in 1946, the Portland Children’s Museum is one of the oldest children’s museums in the country. It has a rich history of providing fun and educational programs. Their mission, according to their website, “is to inspire imagination, creativity and the wonder of learning in children and adults by inviting moments of shared discovery. “ With nearly a quarter million visitors a year, it is a popular and honored Portland institution.
Located on the edge of Washington Park, it is conveniently located and a perfect stop if you want to find a nice way to entertain your kids on a rainy day. Its proximity to the Portland Art Museum or Oregon Zoo makes the Children’s Museum a great starting point for a day of fun activities.
The museum features a number of exhibits to have your kids learn in a hands-on, interactive manner. Kangaroo Crossing allows children to explore the outback, learning everything about the unique environment and wildlife of Australia.
Most kids have boundless amounts of energy and the Garage is a tailor-made exhibit for them. Here they get to make eco-friendly projects out of recycled materials. A combination of creativity and learning how to re-use materials can be informative.
The most inspiring exhibit is the kid’s theater. Directed and acted by kids, it is a perspective on how the creativity of kids is limitless. For adults, it is a fun way to see your child interact and to remember back to the days you might have come up with your own plays and stories.
If you are looking for a more expansive program, the museum offers a variety of children’s programs from one day classes to summer camps. A summer camp allows your kid to continue learning even though school is out of session.
HelloPortland Tip: Keep an eye out for their special events. Fun activities such as “Be a Kid Again” for adults on April 17 are a great way to see the museum from a whole new perspective.
- by William Crane, Portland Reporter for HelloMetro
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William CraneWilliam Crane is an accomplished print and online journalist (http://www.william-crane.com) His work covers a variety of topics including features, local community news, sports, music, and political/social issues.
Graduating from Seattle University with a B.A. in Journalism, William's writing has appeared in a variety of different publications including the Stranger, Capitol Hill Times, the Skanner, Backfire Magazine, and the Internationalist.
