Summary
After closing its doors in 2011 due to financial challenges, the Detroit Children’s Museum is finally reopening—bringing back one of the city’s most beloved cultural landmarks. Operated by the Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation, the museum received an $800,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to restore and relaunch the space.
Originally established in 1917, the museum has served generations of Detroit students as a place of imagination, exploration, and hands-on learning. During its closure, it continued to function as a lending library for teachers, housing over 2.5 million artifacts. Now, the museum is returning to its original purpose: sparking curiosity and creativity through interactive exhibits.
The refreshed museum will feature new displays curated from around the world, including artifacts from Egypt. DPSCD students will have early access through field trips, with a full public reopening expected by the end of the year.
Kerrie Mitchell Campbell Mabins, president and CEO of the DPSCD Foundation, says the goal is not just to reopen a building—but to reignite a legacy of wonder and discovery for Detroit’s next generation.
