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Great River Children's Museum announces June 10 opening in downtown St. Cloud
After many months of construction, one of the newest additions to downtown St. Cloud will open its doors next month.
The long-awaited Great River Children's Museum will open to the public June 10, the museum announced Thursday.
The museum will also host a grand opening celebration June 20 to 22, though details on the event are yet to be announced.
The 31,000-squar- foot space will include eight core exhibits that provide interactive and educational experiences for children, such as its "Climber to the Clouds," "Great Big River" and "Headwaters" exhibits. It also has space for workshops, birthdays and corporate events. The museum also includes a rooftop deck for outdoor learning opportunities.
"Everything is done with such intention, and that is part of the reason it takes a long time. It's not just the money… our children's museum is a unique children's museum, it was designed with hundreds of community voices involved," Executive Director Cassie Miles said in November about the process of creating the museum's exhibits.
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The concept for the children's museum started in 2012, and construction on the site at 111 Seventh Ave. S. started last year after the Minnesota State Legislature approved a $7 million award for the construction phase of the project.
The project cost $17 million total, according to the museum's website and will employ about 25 to 30 people. It also anticipates seeing 130,000 guests annually.
Families looking to visit the museum can purchase a single-day general admission tickets for $14 per person, though children younger than one year old can enter for free.
Memberships are also available as part of the GRCM's membership program that launched last month. A membership costs $150 for two people, and it is another $50 for each additional person. Membership includes unlimited access for a full calendar year, beginning on opening day, according to a release.
The GRCM is also part of the Museums for All program, which reduces the price of daily admission for those receiving food assistance by presenting their EBT card and a photo ID.
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Miles said last November that she wants all visitors to feel proud of the children's museum, and it is also meant to provide a welcoming and "joy-filled experience" for any child.
The Great River Children's Museum will be open 9 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, except for later hours 9 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. It will be closed on Mondays.
Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud's Great River Children's Museum opens in June
