Children’s Discovery Center holds grand opening

By Chris Fortune

St. Joseph families attended the Grand Opening celebration for the inspireU Children’s Discovery Center over three years after the building plans were announced.

On Thursday, Dec. 26, at 10 a.m. the Discovery Center opened its doors officially to swarms of families coming to explore the Center’s exhibits.

The Discovery Center’s exhibits were available for select individuals over the past weekend during a series of soft openings, but it is now officially open for all visitors to enjoy.

The grand opening marked the beginning of normal business hours for the museum, located at 521 Felix St., and parents are grateful to have the Center within the St. Joseph community.

“We’re super excited to have this in St. Joe,” Hannah Bridgman said. “We have gone to Kansas City for some things like this, but to be able to come here on a more regular basis in our own town just feels really exciting.”

Bridgman brought her kids to the Children’s Discovery Center, including Elsie, who enjoyed the slide on the first floor.

“Whenever I went down, I was like, ‘Wow, that was a wild ride,’” she said while laughing.

Rick Hummer spent time on the second floor and walked his grandson through how a truck lift worked at the Gray Manufacturing exhibit.

“I just think it’s really cool for the kids and the way it’s all locally sponsored,” Hummer said.

Noah Lambright enjoyed the Hillyard basketball exhibit as he dunked basketballs and shot layups at the different hoops. He gave a glowing review of the Children’s Discovery Center.

“I just want to say that this place is probably the most exciting place for kids to be in this town,” he said.

The inspireU Children’s Discovery Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can visit mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events.