Museum of Discovery No.6 Children’s Museum in National Poll
Little Rock, Ark., May 21, 2021 – Museum of Discovery was voted sixth-best children’s museum in a USA TODAY “10Best Readers’ Choice Award” poll for the second year in a row. The Little Rock-based science center was one of 20 museums across the country nominated and voted on by the public during a four-week period.
According to the poll, the best children’s museums in the United States are:
1. Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
2. The Magic House (St Louis, Mo.)
3. Children’s Museum of Houston
4. Kohl Children’s Museum (Glenview, Ill.)
5. City Museum (St Louis, Mo.)
6. Museum of Discovery
7. Please Touch Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.)
8. Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
9. The Strong (Rochester, N.Y.)
10. Children’s Museum of Denver
Nominees were chosen by a panel of experts that included editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and media sources. In 2020, Museum of Discovery was nominated and voted as the sixth-best children’s museum as well. In addition to the USA Today polls, Museum of Discovery was named sixth-best science museum in the U.S. in 2013 by educators and scientists who are members of MENSA, the world’s largest and oldest high IQ society.
According to Museum of Discovery CEO Kelley Bass, this honor is a much-needed boost as the science center is closed for renovations following flooding caused by burst pipes that led to between $5.5 million and $6 million in damages.
“It was only two weeks after we learned last year that the readers of USA TODAY had named us the sixth-best children’s museum in the country that we had to close our doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Bass. “So for us to again win this honor during the second straight spring we’ve been closed, this time because of flood damage, is incredibly gratifying. We are thankful for all of our fans voting for us in the poll and are looking forward to seeing them soon in our newly renovated science center.”
Although a reopening date has not been set, Bass says he is hopeful to see the renovated museum open to guests sometime in August.
“We are taking this time to improve the museum and expand a few spaces such as our animal care center and Tinkering Studio,” says Bass. “I believe our guests will be thrilled with the renovations and will look forward to returning time and time again for more hands-on experiences that will ignite and fuel their passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math.”
About Museum of Discovery
Founded in 1927 by Bernie Babcock, Museum of Discovery is the one of the state’s oldest operating museum. It moved from MacArthur Park to the River Market District in 1998. Following an eight-month, $9.2 million renovation funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, Museum of Discovery reopened in its current format in January 2012.
The museum’s mission is to ignite and fuel a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math through dynamic, interactive experiences. For more information on Museum of Discovery, visit www.museumofdiscovery.org.
###
