The Curious Kids Museum in St. Joseph has announced a $9.2 million capital campaign to transform the former Heritage Museum and Cultural Center into its new permanent home.
Curious Kids Director Lori Marciniak tells us after a fire at the current Lake Boulevard location in 2022, leaders at Curious Kids really started to think about how it could better serve the community. Now with the move to the Heritage building, they’re planning a full redesign of the new structure on Main Street with a focus on accessibility, safety, and hands-on learning.
“Just turn all of the building into something that children can explore every inch of, and not always be told, no, don’t go there. No, you can’t do that,” Marciniak said.
Marciniak says they’re adding a freight elevator to move exhibits, restrooms on all three floors, a mezzanine level above the former ballroom balcony, a glassed-in front porch, and an accessible outdoor space with some exhibits.
Curious Kids has already raised $4.3 million and will begin construction in early 2026. From there, the project will be completed over 13 months.
“Hopefully in early 2027, first quarter, we would have the first two floors, the main floor and the second floor open with all the exhibits and all the construction complete. And then by summer of 2027, we would have the basement exhibits installed.”
Marciniak says they’ll be ready with all exhibits by the third quarter of 2027. In the meantime, the museum will be seeking additional grants, contributions from large donors, and support from the public. It’s also secured a $500,000 matching grant from the Frederick S. Upton Foundation, meaning donations made now will be doubled.
Anyone can contribute to the “Building Curiosity — Play a Part, Fund the Fun” campaign now. Marciniak says she knows there’s a lot of support for the Curious Kids Museum.
“We’ve been here for 36 years,” Marciniak said. “We’re now servicing our second generation of people. It’s so heartwarming when a young mom comes in and says, ‘You know, I was here when I was five and my favorite exhibit was…” They tell us all about it and then they bring their kids and they can’t wait to share that.”
Of the money raised from this campaign, Marciniak says $4.5 million will go into the building renovation, $1.1 million is being used to purchase the building, and the remainder will be used for exhibit design and installation. Already, they’ve completed one exhibit that’s now on display at the Lake Boulevard location. Another is being fabricated, and two more are being designed.
Marciniak says once the Main Street home is finished, the location on Lake Boulevard will continue to operate as a field trip hub and after-school space. The Curious Kids Discovery Zone at Silver Beach Center will continue normal operations.
Anyone can make a donation to the capital campaign at the Curious Kids Museum website.
