Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

The museum opened its doors in 1990, and over 9 million visitors have visited. The {{convert|52000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} purple building was designed by Mexico City-based architect Ricardo Legorreta, and houses {{convert|28000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} of gallery space as well as a half-acre outdoor nature play space opened in 2017.{{cite web |title=Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose Financial Statements |url=https://www.cdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Childrens-Discovery-Museum-of-San-Jose-08-2018-Financial-Statements.pdf |publisher=armanino |access-date=12 July 2019}}

The museum builds and displays interactive exhibits that responds to early childhood education. The museum's exhibits, programs and initiatives have received local, regional and national attention.{{cite web |last1=Pizarro |first1=Sal |title=Children's Discovery Museum Hosts Citizenship Ceremony |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/30/pizarro-childrens-discovery-museum-hosts-citizenship-ceremony/ |website=The Mercury News |date=30 January 2017 |publisher=The Mercury News |access-date=12 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=McNulty |first1=Jennifer |title=Parents know best: How everyday conversations foster children's learning |url=https://news.ucsc.edu/2017/09/callanan-museum.html |website=University of Santa Cruz |publisher=University of Santa Cruz |access-date=12 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=LeeAnne |title=6 Great Children's Museums for Outdoor Play |url=https://www.viamagazine.com/blog/great-childrens-museums-outdoor-play |website=VIA Magazine Blog |publisher=VIA Magazine}} Among its exhibits are a two life size Columbian mammoth replicas, authentic explorable vehicles including a fire engine and a Wells Fargo stagecoach, and five visual and performing arts spaces.{{cite web |last1=Krieger |first1=Lisa |title=Lupe, the baby mammoth, comes home to San Jose |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/09/24/lupe-the-baby-mammoth-comes-home-to-san-jose/ |website=The Mercury News |date=24 September 2008 |publisher=The Mercury News |access-date=12 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=ElObservador |title=Immersive Mural Transforms Enormous Covered Entryway at Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose |url=https://el-observador.com/2017/12/08/immersive-mural-transforms-enormous-covered-entryway-at-childrens-discovery-museum-of-san-jose/ |website=El Observador |publisher=El Observador |access-date=12 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Toy |first1=Michelle |title=8-Year-Old Immigration Activist The Face Of New "Mural Of Hope" |url=http://www.ktvu.com/news/9-year-old-immigration-activist-the-face-of-new-mural-of-hope-in-san-jose |website=Fox 2 KTVU |date=27 March 2018 |publisher=Fox 2 KTVU |access-date=12 July 2019}}

The museum is known for its Cultural Celebrations series highlighting the culture and traditions of the diverse population groups represented in this majority minority region.{{cite web |last1=Kendall |first1=Marisa |title=Camel, Kings A Hit At Annual Three Kings Fiesta In San Jose January 6, 2018 |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/06/camel-kings-a-hit-at-annual-three-kings-fiesta-in-san-jose/ |website=The Mercury News |date=6 January 2018 |publisher=The Mercury News |access-date=12 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Geha |first1=Joseph |title=Menorahs and Miracles: Children's museum celebration marks start of Hanukkah |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/12/02/menorahs-and-miracles-childrens-museum-celebration-marks-start-of-hanukkah/ |website=The Mercury News |date=3 December 2018 |publisher=The Mercury News |access-date=12 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Sanchez |first1=Tatiana |title=Families celebrate diversity at 'Proud of My Family' event at San Jose's Children's Discovery Museum |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/26/families-celebrate-diversity-at-proud-of-my-family-event-at-san-joses-childrens-discovery-museum/ |website=The Mercury News |date=26 August 2017 |publisher=The Mercury News |access-date=12 July 2019}}

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose has been ranked by Child magazine as one of the top 10 children's museums in the United States{{cite web |last=Sangiorgio |first=Maureen |title=The 10 Best Children's Museums |work=Child magazine |publisher=Meredith Corporation |url=http://www.parents.com/family-life/travel/us-destinations/the-10-best-childrens-museums/ |date=February 2002}} and ranked by the London Observer as one of the top 5 science centers in the world.

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File:Water display at children's discovery museum in San Jose, California.JPG |Water vortex

File:Tape Scape by Eric Lennartson at children's discovery museum in San Jose, California.JPG |Eric Lennartson's Tape Scape{{cite web |url=http://www.cdm.org/unboxed |title=CDM - Holidays Unboxed: A Spectacle of Carboard and Tape |access-date=2013-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230060711/http://www.cdm.org/unboxed |archive-date=2012-12-30 }}

File:Mammoth skeleton display at Children's discovery museum in San Jose, California.JPG |A mammoth skeleton

File:Stagecoach at Children's Discovery Museum.jpg |A Wells-Fargo stagecoach

Children's Discovery Museum hosts exhibits, programs and events for families with for children age 10 and under that emphasize hands-on, experience- and inquiry-based learning.

Exhibits include Bill's Backyard: Bridge to Nature, a half-acre outdoor nature exploration space; Mammoth Discovery! an exhibit about paleontology, geology, and the scientific method; and Waterways, where children engage in water play and observe physics principles by interacting with a water vortex, observing laminar flow in action, and experiencing fluid pressure and flow.

Noteworthy programs of the museum include a Cultural Celebrations series; performances by local arts organizations; and events highlighting healthy nutrition and physical activities. Programs in the community include BioSITE, environmental education in partnership with local schools; Youth Programs which reach children after school and during summers; and a partnership with Educare preschool that combines exhibit installations and classes for children and parents.

The museum's Legacy for Children fundraising event has honored notables including Mr. Rogers, Dr. Seuss, Kristi Yamaguchi, Sally Ride, Alice Waters, Ronnie Lott, Sonia Manzano, and Ruby Bridges.

Discovery Youth is a program where youth from grades 5 to 12 have fun learning and helping in the museum. They do many projects in computers with programs like Photoshop, Premiere Elements, Flash Creator and many more donated by the Adobe company. They make fun little arts and crafts in the museum on Saturday from 10am to 1pm for the museum visitors. They even have their own website: [https://web.archive.org/web/20081108034140/http://www.getchy.com/]

BioSITE was launched by the museum in 1993 as a unique

"action-science" education program. Currently the program engages 1,500 students each school year in the importance of environmental responsibility and inspires the love of science through authentic field research conducted biweekly in the Guadalupe Watershed. This program is intended to take science learning out of the classroom and moves it into the real world. The students are given the experiences of biologists, conducting research along the river. Their research is monitored at the Coyote Creek Ranger Station.

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Category:Children's museums in California

Category:Museums in San Jose, California

Category:Museums established in 1990

Category:1990 establishments in California

Category:1990s architecture in the United States

Category:Postmodern architecture in California

Category:Ricardo Legorreta buildings