Growing up in Indiana, we had one of the world’s best children’s museums just an hour away in Indianapolis. You might not believe me, but this museum is listed at the tippity-top of all the top 10 lists when it comes to spaces for kids to discover and learn. Think I’m pulling your leg? Click here. Field trips to the museum were the highlight of every school year, and my favorite exhibit was always the dinosaur archeological dig, where you could strap on a pair of safety goggles and wield a pickaxe to unearth extremely realistic (for a ten year old) bones of a tyrannosaurus. Right next to that was the Egyptian exhibit, which was only accessed (unless you’re boring and take the ramp) by sliding down a shoot that took you deep into the tomb of Tutankhamun. Then there was the two-story slide they put up every Christmas as part of the winter wonderland that enveloped the entire museum. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. It was a magical place for me growing up, and I desperately want the same for Cora.
The only problem is, the current children’s museum here in San Antonio is a bit underwhelming when compared to my childhood memories. It really makes a great effort, but the facilities and exhibits are in major need of an upgrade. And finally, it’s as if the children’s museum gods have heard my prayer, because their brand spanking new building on Broadway Street is finally nearing completion. The Do Seum, as it will be called, will be a place for toddlers through teens to discover, play, learn, and run wild the way I used to in Indianapolis. Just kidding, I was an extremely well behaved child…
When the folks at The Do Seum invited my fellow San Antonio bloggers and I to take a tour of their construction site, I was actually thrilled to wake up early on a Saturday morning. Cora and I got to the site just in time to for me to hear all about their plans, and she sauntered off to participate in activities with the other kids. As we strolled through the dusty construction materials and foundation, the engineer for the project told us about the work that went in to planning The Do Seum. With solar panels, water conservation tactics, and a low-waste construction site, every effort has been made to make the museum an eco-friendly building from the ground up. They even saved a heritage oak tree that was over 100 years old and replanted it to be the centerpoint of the museum’s entrance.
It must be weird being a blogger’s kid. You’re always getting dragged to strange events to play with strange people. Case in point: my child in the photo below playing with a Do Seum volunteer. If you can’t spot her, she’s the only one without a hard hat one. Yup, I snapped this picture as we breezed by them playing together and didn’t even stop to strap one to her head. Turns out, she survived the experience nonetheless. How cool though that Cora can say she was one of the very first kids to ever play in The Do Seum?
The folks taking us through the tour of the museum were also exceedingly friendly and helpful. They answered any questions our group had, and shared as much as they could about upcoming exhibits. They weren’t allowed to say much, but they did let us know there will be a space in the museum for traveling exhibits, so the space won’t be stagnant or limited to what’s currently available. Additional exhibits popping up all the time will be a tantalizing draw for locals like our family to keep coming back, rather than just attracting the tourist crowd.
I think all the San Antonio bloggers who attended were excited to hear about what’s to come for The Do Seum. Different things matter to different people, and it was so interesting to hear the questions that piqued the curiosity of my fellow bloggers. For example, noise control in the museum will be part of the building’s very design, to help kids who may be sensitive to that sort of thing. I, on the other hand, selfishly asked what similar buildings they turned to for inspiration and my little Hoosier heart beamed when they mentioned the Indianapolis museum.
This is my friend Telma, a fellow San Antonio blogger who writes At The Fire Hydrant! Isn’t she lovely? This photo doesn’t have much to do with the tour, but I just thought it was such a pretty picture of her! If you ever have the chance to start a blog and you’re in the San Antonio area, I can’t say enough about this group of bloggers. They are warm, brilliant, and funny people that create amazing content every single day!
Colleen of San Antonio Mom Blogs and Stacy of Kids Stuff World were apparently listening very intently to what The Do Seum workers had to say! Again, these are two ladies that I look up to immensely in the blogging, motherhood, and womanhood worlds! I think we all had a great time taking at look at what will be in the new space for children in San Antonio. Their opening date of Summer 2015 simply can’t get here soon enough!
To discover more photos from The Do Seum, check out my Instagram here.
XO,
A
P.S. I received a swag bag and attended a complimentary tour of The Do Seum in exchange for this post. Don’t worry though, all opinion are my own.
