Learning and playing are two of the most important and exciting things in childhood, and beyond. In the Bronx, there is an amazing museum where you can do both at the same time in a very engaging way. So, bronx-future.com is here to tell you about this incredible place, its history, and its role in the Bronx community.
The Purple Bus: The Fun is Coming
The big purple bus first appeared on the streets of the Bronx in 2010. At first, residents thought it was a new city bus route, but it soon became clear that wherever this brightly colored bus appeared, a crowd of children would gather, and laughter and loud music would fill the air. This was the unique way the Bronx Children’s Museum was getting attention. Founded in 2005, the museum faced constant issues with funding and finding a permanent home, which forced its leadership to find new ways to grow. That’s when the idea of a mobile museum in the form of a large purple bus came to life. This unusual vehicle became a symbol of joy, traveling through Bronx neighborhoods and filling the streets with fun and children’s laughter.
Although the organization was named the Bronx Children’s Museum, it had nothing in common with traditional museums. No “hands-off” exhibits, no monotonous tours, and no boring museum halls. The Children’s Museum’s mission was to introduce children to the exciting world of the STEAM program, combining science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
The bus would arrive at a specific location, and learning tables and activity zones would be set up around it. In each area, children could watch interesting experiments, play educational games, and complete various tasks.
During the purple bus’s time on the streets of the Bronx, it engaged over 150,000 children and families through community events and educational programs.
Finally, the culmination of this multi-year journey was the acquisition of a permanent home for the Bronx Children’s Museum. The official grand opening of the museum in Mill Pond Park in the South Bronx took place on December 3, 2022.
The Children’s Museum: A World of Dreams
The main idea and mission of the Bronx Children’s Museum remain the same. The priority is to foster children’s development through interactive STEAM experiments. It’s not just a space for fun and games. Every area of the museum is thoughtfully designed and filled with a multitude of educational elements that are changed and updated periodically. The Bronx Children’s Museum encourages curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning, opening up new possibilities and celebrating the diverse paths of development and rich cultures.
The museum has over 10,000 square feet of active exhibition space where families can play, learn, and interact with the Bronx’s natural and cultural resources through art, dramatic play, and scientific exploration. The space is divided into the following zones:
- Waterways
A large 35-foot water play area that recreates the look of the Bronx’s three waterways: the Bronx River, the Harlem River, and Orchard Beach. It’s one of the most popular spots for kids, because what’s more fun than playing with water? Through play, children learn about the features of the aquatic and beach landscape, explore the principles of how bridges and river infrastructure work, and discover the flora and fauna of real local waterways.
- Forest
Here, children can explore animals, plants, and other natural elements of the Bronx using a microscope and educational materials, observe live animals in their enclosures, create natural patterns with special puzzles, and even become masters at building beaver lodges.
- City
This is a miniature version of the local neighborhood. Here you can pick fruits and vegetables in a community garden, and stroll past stores, restaurants, veterinary clinics, and radio stations. Kids get to know the urban infrastructure and most of all love to feel like real shoppers in the grocery store in this area.
- Nest
This area is for the youngest visitors of the Bronx Children’s Museum—for toddlers from birth to age 3, who are in the play space with their parents. Here, children can develop gross motor skills through crawling or balancing and fine motor skills at special tables, sorters, and busy boards.
- Cloud
The museum’s multimedia creative space where you can move to the rhythms of salsa, cha-cha-cha, and hip-hop, and also immerse yourself in the world of creating paintings, posters, theatrical performances, and other activities.
- Enchanted Garden
Bright decorations transport children to an unusual garden with its magical inhabitants. Here you can try on costume insect wings and watch an interactive puppet show.
- Artist’s Studio
The exhibition in this area recreates the working studio of a famous children’s book illustrator, C.J. Esperance, giving children a chance to see what an artist’s life is like in their studio.
- Art Builds Community
This is like a museum within a museum. The exhibition highlights the incredible talents of local artists. The collection contains works by Bronx artists, such as sculptures, murals, photographs, and more.
- Sonia’s Corner
This room is named after Bronx writer Sonia Manzano. It’s typically where animators and educators relax. But the room is open to all museum guests. Here you can read interesting books and learn more about the life of Sonia Manzano.
The Bronx Children’s Museum also has a large multipurpose space for various special programs, art events, and meetings.
Involvement in Community Life
The purple bus made a significant contribution to the development of STEAM initiatives for Bronx children. The museum’s leadership plans to purchase a new electric bus and continue this great tradition, reaching even more neighborhoods and children.
In addition, the Bronx Children’s Museum actively participates in community life, and its representatives are frequent guests at various festivals, holidays, and competitions.
One such annual event that the Bronx Children’s Museum participates in is the Family Day celebration for employees of Montefiore Einstein and their families. The main goal of this event is to highlight the health benefits of play, particularly in reducing stress, stimulating mental activity, and developing social skills. Play also plays an important role in promoting good health. So, the task of the Bronx Children’s Museum at this event is to create a space where children and their parents can interact through fun and educational activities, which helps strengthen family bonds and promote an active lifestyle.
“The Bronx Children’s Museum and Montefiore Einstein share common values in our commitment to a healthy future for children and their families, and we both understand the importance of play and family connections,” says the museum’s Executive Director, Denise Rosario Adusei.
In 2024, at the Family Day celebration, the “Montefiore Einstein Miles” were unveiled—a special trail with markers that encourage activity and games, highlighting the importance of physical and mental health. This initiative offers visitors an interactive way to take care of their health while at the museum.
“The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein is proud to be a partner with the Bronx Children’s Museum to encourage movement and a healthy lifestyle for over 130 years,” said Dr. Michael D. Cabana.
A Bookstore Opens
On June 4, 2024, another significant event took place with the participation of the Bronx Children’s Museum. On this day, the first children’s bookstore in the Bronx, “The Book Bodega,” opened its doors.
John Boudreau, the museum’s director of marketing and communications, emphasized the importance of the bookstore as a resource for improving literacy in the region. He hopes it will help fill knowledge gaps and teach children about Bronx history, as well as foster pride in their roots through a diverse selection of authors.
At the bookstore’s opening, a new children’s book, “Cesaria Feels the Rhythm,” was also presented, written by the museum’s Executive Director Denise Rosario Adusei and illustrated by Priscilla Soares. The book tells the story of a 4-year-old Afro-Latina girl who takes off her shoes during a carnival performance to feel the music.
The creators of the project hope that the new bookstore will help Bronx children expand their knowledge and find joy in immersing themselves in the wonderful world of literature.
Visiting the Museum
The Bronx Children’s Museum is located at 725 Exterior St., not far from Yankee Stadium. It is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. For the convenience and comfort of guests, visiting hours are divided into two sessions: a morning session from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and an afternoon session from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Ticket prices vary by age: $8 for children, $14 for adults, and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are admitted free.
The museum also offers memberships for frequent visitors and various discounts. More information is available on the museum’s official website.