News Summary
The EdVenture Children’s Museum has reopened its iconic 40-foot-tall sculpture, Eddie, after significant upgrades including new interactive exhibits and improved accessibility features. The museum’s centerpiece for 19 years now includes a new firefly companion, enhancing educational opportunities around local wildlife. EdVenture aims to be a welcoming place for all families, offering reduced admission rates and engaging learning experiences. With a popular attraction drawing 200,000 annual visitors, EdVenture continues to connect children with education through play.
Columbia – The EdVenture Children’s Museum has reopened its iconic 40-foot-tall sculpture, Eddie, following significant upgrades on December 20, 2022. These enhancements include new interactive exhibits and improved accessibility features to accommodate visitors with disabilities, reinforcing the museum’s commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all families.
As the museum’s centerpiece for 19 years, Eddie serves not merely as a sculpture but as a living exhibit where children can engage in educational play focused on understanding body organs. EdVenture’s CEO, Andy Marquart, emphasized the importance of preserving Eddie as a vital attraction that plays a central role in children’s physical activity and education.
In a related development, the museum has also introduced a new insect companion to Eddie. The original dragonfly has been replaced with a firefly as part of EdVenture’s rebranding efforts. The firefly symbolizes local wildlife, and its creation was led by artist Meaghan Westfall. This transition is intended to provide new educational opportunities surrounding endangered species and the local ecosystem.
EdVenture Children’s Museum has maintained its popularity, attracting approximately 200,000 visitors each year. The summer months are especially busy, with an average of 1,000 visitors per day during peak weekends. The museum is not just home to Eddie but features a wide array of interactive exhibits, including a firefighter simulation, a dairy and produce farm, a mini hospital, and a media newsroom.
To ensure accessibility for all families, EdVenture offers reduced admission rates for visitors receiving income-based assistance. This initiative aims to connect families with local resources and make educational experiences more accessible to everyone.
Founded in 1995, EdVenture Children’s Museum was built on the idea of creating an engaging environment that promotes learning through play. When the sculpture of Eddie was constructed in 2002, it was designed to represent the racial diversity of South Carolina, allowing children from various backgrounds to see themselves in this vibrant educational space.
EdVenture occupies an extensive area equivalent to 1.5 football fields and operates with an annual budget of $3 million. As part of its ongoing efforts to engage the community, the museum is involved in various local events aimed at connecting families to vital resources and services.
In conjunction with the introduction of the new firefly, the museum has announced plans for a contest to name the new companion, inviting young visitors to participate and foster their creativity.
The recent upgrades and the addition of the firefly are expected to enhance the educational experiences offered at EdVenture, ensuring that it continues to be a leading destination for families seeking interactive and enriching activities.
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- Post and Courier
- WIS TV
- Kidding Around Greenville
- ABC Columbia
- The State
- Wikipedia: EdVenture Children’s Museum
- Google Search: EdVenture Children’s Museum
- Google Scholar: EdVenture Children’s Museum
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Children’s Museum
- Google News: EdVenture Children’s Museum
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