Brooklyn Children's Museum: 125 years of history and a new garden
Established in 1899 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Children's Museum holds the title of the oldest children's museum globally. Originally located in the Adams House, it drew 13,000 visitors each month by 1905. A new wing was introduced in 1929, and by 1939, the museum welcomed over 9 million guests. In 1975, it relocated near Brower Park and underwent a $40 million expansion in 2005 to serve 400,000 visitors annually. As it approaches its 125th anniversary at the end of 2024, the museum has rebounded from a crisis after shutting its Dumbo site. Director Atiba Edwards initiated a $15 million renovation, adding 1,800 square meters of interactive outdoor areas, with a new Earth Science Exhibit slated for completion in 2026.
Key facts
- Brooklyn Children's Museum founded in 1899, oldest children's museum in the world
- Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, originally in Adams House
- Founded by Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences (now Brooklyn Museum)
- 1905: 13,000 monthly visitors
- 1929: new wing at Smith House
- 1939: over 9 million visitors in 40 years
- 1975: moved near Brower Park
- 2005: $40 million expansion doubled space to 400,000 annual visitors
- 2024: celebrated 125th anniversary
- Dumbo satellite location closed after three years
- Permanent collection: ~30,000 objects from Paleolithic to present
- Director: Atiba Edwards
- New garden project: $15 million, designed by Gans and Company
- Garden adds 1,800 sq meters, includes Earth Science Exhibit
- Garden completion expected in 2026
Entities
Institutions
- Brooklyn Children's Museum
- Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences
- Brooklyn Museum
- Gans and Company
Locations
- Brooklyn
- Crown Heights
- Adams House
- Smith House
- Brower Park
- Dumbo
- New York