The Discovery Museums

CONTACT:

177 Main St.
Acton, MA 01720
978-264-4200, x25
www.discoverymuseums.org

Michael Judd, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

In 1981 Don Verger and his wife were expecting their second child, and Don was thinking about what kinds of learning experiences their preschool children should have. He imagined an entire house in which every room would have different, interesting, but ordinary, stuff to touch and play with, in ways that would involve discoveries, practical problem solving, and fun. As he got more wrapped up in the idea, which was for him a discovery process all by itself, he decided why not? So he bought a Victorian house that needed work in Acton, and created “The Discovery Museum,” which opened in October 1982. Did he do extensive market research or “due diligence” scanning existing children-museum pedagogy, or assemble a team of specialist technical advisors? Not at all — he simply trusted his own vision.The result was that he made a truly original contribution to an entire field of children’s museum education. The place was so creative, so different, and so much fun for kids, that it sold itself — 40,000 visitors in the first year! Five years later, as his own children reached school-age, he built a Science Discovery Museum next door. In 2007, the Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary and great successes: 140,000 visitors annually; featured in two episodes of the new PBS series “Curious George;” and with National Science Foundation funding collaboration with MIT’s Haystack Observatory to develop “Discovery KWEST” (Kids Who Explore Science Together), an after-school enrichment program for Boys and Girls Clubs children and families. They have also developed hugely successful programming for infants and toddlers — e.g., “Sensations,” “Mirror Magic,” “Bubbly Baby,” and “Follow Your Nose.” Follow yours, Catalogue donors.

(2003: CULTURE: Education: Informal: General)