Every parent in New Orleans has been itching to see inside the new Louisiana Children’s Museum, located within City Park, and recently Macaroni Kid was granted a sneak peek tour led by executive director, Julia Bland. With the new LCM opening on Labor Day weekend, we’ve pulled together 6 things you Need To Know before you go:
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1. You’re surrounded by nature!
As parents, we are constantly battling the influence of technology, screens, tablets, and TVs. Louisiana offers such a unique natural background and every inch of the LCM seems to tie in the influences of nature that we’re so lucky to live in. We learned that the very design of the museum was based on integrating our natural surroundings. The museum is built around beautiful oak trees and over water, with floor to ceiling windows designed to let in tons of light and to highlight the natural view. We loved the museum's 14 Kindows, windows built at kid-level, that are perfect cozy little nooks for kids to take in the trees, sky and water.
The Dig Into Nature section, located on the first floor, will teach our kids everything from coastal erosion to understanding the unique aspects of our ecosystem. Whether kids are turning the crank to see an interactive side view of how waves form and how that impacts our coastline, or are looking through a massive microscope, they really make science fun.
Both younger and older kids will love interacting with all of the natural elements and exhibits here. There’s even a floating classroom.
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2. The good stuff moved with them!
Whether you grew up in Southeast Louisiana or are a new parent trying to find your footing here, you probably have a soft spot for some of the exhibits within the Julia Street LCM location. While the entire museum is new, fresh and innovative, they brought back some of our favorites. Here are a few that tugged at our heartstrings:
Food & You Market: Located on the main floor of the LCM in the Follow That Food exhibit, your kids will get to experience a new and improved journey of how our food is grown and distributed in Louisiana. Not only is the grocery store back and better than ever, the kids get to grow up experiencing Mr. Okra, just like we did as children.
Water Table: The RiverWorks water table is now the Mighty Mississippi, and boy, is it mighty! Starting at Lake Itasca and ending with the Port of New Orleans, this 100 foot water table is massive, leaving plenty of room for kids of all ages to play and learn.
Bubbles: Bigger and better than a bubble table, the new bubble ROOM is enclosed in glass and is fully handicap accessible. Who doesn’t like bigger and better bubbles? And now everyone can enjoy!
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3. It all ties back to living in Louisiana!
It is the Louisiana Children’s Museum, after all, and they really put a lot of effort into ensuring that it all ties back to our great state. Each section and exhibit was crafted with our Louisiana kids in mind.
Once you make your way to the second floor, you’ll find the Move with the River and Make Your Mark sections of the museum. We’ve already talked about the enormous water table, and half of this floor immerses you in the impact that water has in our daily lives.
You can also check out our musical roots in the Jammin’ House and make your way through Jackson Square. Our favorite exhibit? An interactive, life sized checkerboard map of New Orleans, where you move special pieces across the map to hear sounds of New Orleans specific to that area, from the sounds of the Who Dat Nation to waves lapping on the shore of the Mississippi River. A local 9-year-old came up with this fun idea, and the LCM made it come to life!
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4. There’s something for kids of ALL ages
Finding a place to bring kids that vary in ages is always a challenge and there is something for everyone here.
We know how important those first few years of life are, and the Play With Me section is dedicated to kids under 4. They’ll love the tree wall mural by local artist Alex Beard, bouncy sensory lagoon, messy play area and more. It’s fun for the little ones, with each area designed to support their language skills and brain development, which are critical in the first 1000 days of life.
This doesn’t mean the rest of the museum is for the big kids only. We looked at each section and asked ourselves how both younger and older kids would interact, and while their experiences would be different depending on their age, each exhibit is cleverly designed to capture the attention of kids of all ages.
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5. The FOOD!
You’ve spent the day exploring the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the kids are hungry. You’re hungry! In any other state, you would have to settle on overpriced food court food, but this is New Orleans and food is a way of life. Acorn Café, located at the base of the museum, is a full-service café, brought to you by Dickie Brennan & Co.
Whether you’re sitting outside or inside, the views overlooking the water and oak trees are spectacular – and so is the food. We were treated to a sample of some of their menu items, and we loved everything from the robust salads to the gourmet pizza and sandwiches. The kids menu offers favorites like chicken tenders (grilled or fried), mac and cheese, nitrite free hot dogs and more. Fun fact: They are open for breakfast at 7:00 am and anyone visiting City Park is welcome.
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6. It’s not JUST for the kids!
We heard a lot of inside scoop during our sneak peek. We heard about the studies and research that were done over the course of the last 10 years to ensure that each and every exhibit was carefully constructed to help our kids learn and grow. We heard about the focus group they conducted with Louisiana grandparents, because kids in our state should and do have experiences with multiple generations in their families. We saw the information in each section that is just for the parents and caregivers, teaching us how to ask the right questions so that our kids get the most out of these exhibits.
We were excited to learn how all of these elements came together to make this museum for our kids something really special. The icing on the cake for us was how much WE, the adults, the parents, enjoyed it! From the crisp white walls and floor to ceiling windows to the really great information masked as fun, we actually loved just being there.
We’ve really only scratched the surface with everything the new Louisiana Children’s Museum has to offer.
Do yourself and your family a favor, come check it out with us on opening weekend. We’ll be there with our kids in tow. Special Grand Opening Hours are Saturday, August 31 are noon - 7:30 pm, Sunday September 1 and Monday, September 2 from 9:30am - 7:30 p.m. The museum will return to normal operating hours on Tuesday, September 3.
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Don't Miss These 5 Gems On Your Visit...
1. Fog Art Installation - Every hour you’ll witness an amazing fog art installation surrounding the bridge leading up to the LCM. Developed by a Japanese artist, there are only 2 in the United States! You and your kids will love interacting with this art exhibit as it shifts and changes with the wind.
2. Glass Bead Installation - New Orleans artist Mitchell Gaudet has individually cast 500 5” glass beads in a rainbow of colors to adorn the railing of the porch of the Museum. These one-of-a-kind beads are not only a nod to New Orleans’ cultural history, they’re designed to be etched with personal names, memorials, and quotes. There are still some beads available for sponsorship by your family. Your kids will love to search the beads for their name, and you’ll love being a permanent part of the Museum.
3. Cypress,cypress, cypress - Look for the beautiful desktop in the Julia Street Lobby and stools made from cypress trees from the Atchafalaya Basin. These materials were previously harvested and speak to the Museums appreciation for Louisiana natural elements and a reuse of materials.
4. Student Art - Everywhere you turn, you’ll see artwork from local students adorning the walls and hallways of the Museum, along with the name and age of the local artist, demonstrating the potential that all children carry.
5. The Grandparent’s Influence - As part of the museum's case study with multiple generation Louisiana families, you’ll spot quotes from some of our more prominent grandparents, including Leah Chase.
