(Omaha, NE) -- Omaha Children’s Museum is planning to build a new museum in downtown Omaha at 8th and Douglas streets, along Omaha’s Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront.
Omaha Children’s Museum will continue to operate at its current location at 20th and Howard streets during the fundraising for and construction of the new space, with the goal of transitioning to its new home in late 2027.
Omaha Children’s Museum has a nearly 50-year legacy of nurturing growth and development in children across the Omaha community - much of it from a building that was originally a car dealership. The development of a new museum would be in partnership with project champions Susan and Mike Lebens and Heritage Omaha, a nonprofit committed to developing impactful philanthropic projects designed to enrich the Omaha community. The goal is to create a dynamic, purpose-built children’s museum full of fun spaces inspired by children and their caregivers, shaped by best practices in early child development.
Omaha Children’s Museum CEO Fawn Taylor said this is an opportunity to build a museum with inclusive exhibits and programming that spark joy, curiosity, and connection. “Nebraska is home to some of the nation’s leading experts on early childhood development who are working with us to plan for the new museum - from the building to the exhibits to the programming,” said Taylor. “Their guidance will combine with input from national peer museums, decades of experience from our staff, and feedback from the Omaha community to create a dynamic new Omaha Children’s Museum.”
Longtime Omaha Children’s Museum supporters and volunteers Susan and Mike Lebens are excited to have a role in leading this project. “We spent the past year traveling the United States to visit other great children’s museums and are confident that we can create something incredibly fun and full of learning opportunities that is unlike anything else in the country right now," said Susan Lebens. Mike Lebens added, “We’re proud to play a role in taking what started in 1976 as a children’s museum operating out of a station wagon into its next chapter, ensuring it can serve area children and their caregivers for generations to come.”
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert joined Omaha Children’s Museum for the announcement, which included plans at the site for a residential complex from NuStyle Development called The Beam and an adjacent City of Omaha parking garage. Mayor Stothert says the project would add to the momentum downtown. “This entire development fits right in with all the year-round family-friendly activities at the surrounding parks, museums, and entertainment venues downtown,” said Mayor Stothert. “We love that the site has easy access for pedestrians and cyclists and a location directly on the ORBT bus and Omaha Streetcar routes, and we know that the new City of Omaha parking garage will get plenty of use from museum guests, Beam tenants, and everyone visiting downtown.” The garage and associated redevelopment agreements are scheduled to go before the Omaha City Council in the coming weeks.
The community can help shape the new museum by taking a survey at www.OCMRiverFront.org. Surveys for kids and adults are available in English and Spanish and open through December 15, 2024. Participants can enter to win a one-year Omaha Children’s Museum family membership.
Omaha Children’s Museum is working with internationally renowned design firm Snøhetta to create the architecture and landscape of the museum. Snøhetta recently completed the renovation and expansion of Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum and sculpture gardens. Other project partners include award-winning exhibit design firm Roto, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, and Kiewit Building Group. For additional details on the project, including a list of partners and advisors, visit www.OCMRiverFront.org.
Image courtesy Omaha Children's Museum