Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about the Grand Forks Children’s Museum? You’re in the right place. As the museum takes shape, we know families, donors, educators, and community members are curious about what’s coming next. Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often.
Quick Answers at a Glance
Where will it be?
1660 S. 42nd St. in Grand Forks, ND, along the 'Destination
Corridor'
Who is it for?
Children, families, schools, caregivers, and curious learners of all ages.
What will be inside?
Hands-on exhibits, STEAM learning, classrooms, gathering spaces, outdoor learning areas, and more.
About the Museum
What is the Grand Forks Children's Museum?
The Grand Forks Children’s Museum will be a hands-on, play-based learning destination designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection. Through interactive exhibits, educational programs, and community gathering spaces, the museum will invite children and families to explore, imagine, discover, and grow together.
What are the museum's mission and vision?
The Grand Forks Children’s Museum’s mission is to engage minds through play, and our vision is to provide a creative space that enriches lives through exploration. Together, these guide everything we are building: a joyful, welcoming place where children can be active, curious, creative, and connected to the world around them.
What ages will the museum serve?
The museum’s permanent exhibits are being designed primarily for toddlers through age 12, with spaces and programs that can also serve older children, teens, adults, schools, and community groups. Most importantly, the museum will be a place where children and their grown-ups can learn and explore together.
Why does Grand Forks need a children's museum?
Children’s museums give families a place for hands-on learning, movement, imagination, creativity, and connection. GFCM will offer a year-round destination where children can learn through play, build confidence, and see the world around them in new ways.
Is this only for Grand Forks?
No. While the museum will be located in Grand Forks, it is being built as a regional resource for families, schools, and visitors across the Red River Valley and beyond. The exhibits and experiences are rooted in the landscapes, industries, and spirit of our region.
What does "Root. Rise. Grow." mean?
“Root. Rise. Grow.” reflects both the museum’s exhibit journey and its larger story. The Land Level helps children root themselves in the wonder of our region. The Sky Level invites them to rise into imagination and possibility. The Grow climber connects the two, symbolizing movement, confidence, and discovery.
Is the museum already open?
Not yet. The museum is currently in the building and development stage, with construction underway. GFCM will continue sharing updates as the project moves forward.
Are the renderings final?
Renderings help show the vision and direction for the museum, but some details may change as construction, exhibit fabrication, and installation continue. The overall goal remains the same: to create a joyful, welcoming, hands-on learning destination for children and families.
Visiting & Opening
Where will the museum be located?
The Grand Forks Children’s Museum will be located at 1660 S. 42nd Street in Grand Forks, along the Destination Corridor south of the Alerus Center and near the upcoming Altru Sports Complex.
When will the museum open?
An official opening date will be shared when construction and exhibit installation timelines are confirmed. GFCM will continue to share updates as major milestones are reached.
Will there be admission?
Yes, the museum will have admission, memberships, and program fees, along with access opportunities designed to help reduce barriers for families. More details about pricing, memberships, and scholarships will be shared closer to opening.
Will memberships be available?
Yes. Memberships will be part of the museum experience and will offer families a way to visit often throughout the year. Membership details will be announced closer to opening.
Will adults be able to visit without children?
The museum’s daily exhibit experience will be designed primarily for children and their caregivers. However, adult visitors may be able to participate through special events, community programs, rentals, volunteer opportunities, and donor or partner events.
How long will a typical visit take?
That will depend on the visitor, the family, the age of the children, and what programs are happening that day. The museum is being designed as a place where families can spend several hours exploring and return often for new experiences.
Will there be parking?
Yes. Parking and drop-off areas are included in the museum site planning. More visitor details will be shared before opening.
Will the museum host birthday parties or private events?
Yes. The museum is being designed with flexible classrooms, gathering spaces, and event areas that may support birthday parties, private rentals, school events, and community gatherings. Rental information will be shared closer to opening.
Exhibits & Programs
What kinds of exhibits will the museum have?
The museum will feature hands-on exhibits inspired by the Red River Valley, including community role play, agriculture, water, sensory-rich early childhood play, weather, flight, light, space, and discovery. The experience will be organized around two main exhibit levels, Land and Sky, connected by the two-story Grow climber.
What is the Land Level?
The Land Level celebrates the industries, environments, and community systems that shape life in the Red River Valley. Planned galleries include Friendly Forks, Harvest Hustle, River Run, and Big Backyard, where children can explore community life, agriculture, water, sensory play, and imaginative learning.
What is the Sky Level?
The Sky Level extends the museum journey upward into weather, flight, energy, light, space, and wonder. Planned areas include Glow, Sky Lab, Space Time, and Wonder, all designed to encourage curiosity, experimentation, and big ideas.
What is Grow?
Grow is the museum’s iconic two-story climber connecting the Land and Sky levels. It will invite children to climb, balance, move, explore different pathways, and build strength, confidence, coordination, and connection.
Will there be a space for toddlers?
Yes. Big Backyard is being designed as a developmentally thoughtful space for the museum’s youngest visitors. It will offer sensory-rich, familiar, and welcoming play opportunities for toddlers and their caregivers.
Will the museum include STEAM learning?
Yes. STEAM learning is central to the museum’s purpose. Children will explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands-on exhibits, creative programming, problem-solving, movement, experimentation, and play.
Will exhibits change over time?
Yes. The museum will include permanent exhibits as well as flexible areas for rotating exhibits, programs, workshops, and seasonal experiences. This will give families reasons to return again and again.
Will there be outdoor learning spaces?
Yes. Outdoor learning is part of the full museum vision. Planned outdoor areas include space for learning gardens, outdoor classrooms, gathering spaces, festivals, events, and play connected to the land and seasons of our region.
Will there be programs before the museum opens?
Yes. GFCM already offers and participates in community programming, pop-up experiences, outreach activities, STEAM events, and family engagement opportunities. These programs help bring the museum’s mission to life even before the building opens.
Schools, Groups & Community
Will schools be able to visit?
Yes. School visits and educational partnerships are an important part of the museum’s mission. GFCM is being designed as a hands-on learning resource for classrooms, educators, and students throughout the region.
Will there be field trips?
Yes. Field trip details, scheduling, pricing, and learning goals will be shared closer to opening. The museum’s exhibits and programs will be designed to support inquiry-based, hands-on learning.
Will the museum work with educators and community partners?
Yes. Partnerships with schools, colleges, early childhood organizations, libraries, civic groups, businesses, and community partners will help expand the museum’s reach and impact.
Can community groups use the museum?
Yes. The museum is being designed as a community gathering place with flexible spaces for programs, meetings, events, and celebrations. More rental and partnership details will be available closer to opening.
Will there be volunteer opportunities?
Yes. Volunteers will continue to play an important role in GFCM’s story. Opportunities may include events, programs, outreach, administrative support, committee work, and other needs as the museum grows.
Giving & Fundraising
Are you still fundraising?
Yes. The building campaign is nearing completion, and support is still needed to help bring the full museum vision to life. Gifts may support the building, exhibits, educational programming, outdoor learning spaces, and long-term sustainability.
I thought the museum was almost funded. Why are gifts still needed?
The building is a major part of the vision, but it is not the whole story. A children’s museum becomes truly alive through programs, educators, exhibits, access initiatives, outdoor learning, and long-term operating strength. Support now helps ensure the museum opens strong and continues serving families for generations.
Is there a new campaign?
No. There is not a separate campaign or a change in direction. Continued fundraising is the natural next chapter of the same vision: building on the foundation already created and helping the museum become a living, lasting community institution.
What does my gift support?
Gifts can support several areas, including the capital building fund, exhibits, programming, outdoor learning and destination spaces, operations, and endowment. Every gift helps move the museum closer to opening strong and serving children well.
Will my gift be recognized?
Recognition opportunities are available at different giving levels. Gifts of $5,000 and above are planned for permanent donor wall recognition if the gift or pledge is received by December 2026, and larger gifts may qualify for additional sponsorship opportunities. All gifts will be recognized on digital donor displays.
What are sponsorship opportunities?
Sponsorship opportunities allow donors, families, businesses, and foundations to support specific museum spaces, exhibits, classrooms, outdoor areas, or programs. These opportunities create a lasting connection between donors and the experiences children will enjoy for years.
Can I make a gift in honor or memory of someone?
Yes. Tribute gifts may be made in honor or memory of someone special. GFCM can notify the honoree or their family when a tribute gift is made.
Can I give stock, IRA gifts, planned gifts, or endowment gifts?
Yes. GFCM can accept several types of gifts, including cash, checks, credit card gifts, stock gifts, IRA gifts, matching gifts, planned gifts, tribute gifts, and endowment gifts. Donors are encouraged to consult their tax or financial advisor to determine the best giving method.
Who should I contact about a major gift or sponsorship?
For major gifts, sponsorships, or donor conversations, you may reach out to the GFCM team through the website contact form or by emailing one of our fundraising team.
Katie Mayer, Executive Director - katiem@gfchildrensmuseum.com
Kim Woods, Fundraising Director - kimwoods1881@gmail.com
Diane Martinson, Fundraising Coordinator - dianem@gfchildrensmuseum.com
Maura Tanabe, GFCM Board Fundraising Committee Chair - mauratanabe@gmail.com
Is GFCM a nonprofit?
Yes. The Grand Forks Children’s Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The museum’s Federal Tax ID is 87-0865807.
Why does the children's museum need an endowment?
An endowment helps protect the museum’s future. It can support access, high-quality programs, staffing, maintenance, and long-term stability so the museum is not dependent only on year-to-year fundraising.
Can I help without making a financial gift?
Yes. Support can also include volunteering, sharing the museum’s story, attending events, making introductions, offering in-kind support, forming partnerships, or connecting GFCM with businesses, schools, civic groups, and community leaders.
Accessibility, Inclusion & Visitor Experience
Will the museum be accessible?
Accessibility is an important part of the museum’s planning. The building layout is being designed to support access, movement, flexible programming, and welcoming experiences across ages and abilities.
Will there be quiet or wellness spaces?
Yes. Wellness and calm spaces are part of the museum plan. These areas will provide quieter places for nursing, diapering, sensory breaks, rest, and care during a museum visit.
Will the museum be inclusive of children with sensory needs?
Yes. The museum is being designed with many types of learners and visitors in mind. Sensory-friendly spaces, wellness rooms, thoughtful exhibit design, and staff training will help support a welcoming experience.
Will there be scholarships or reduced admission options?
Access is an important priority for GFCM. Details will be developed closer to opening, but the museum intends to create opportunities that help reduce financial barriers so more children and families can participate.
Will caregivers be able to participate with children?
Yes. The museum is designed for children and their grown-ups to explore together. Many exhibits and programs will encourage shared discovery, conversation, movement, and connection.
Will there be places to sit, rest, or take a break?
Yes. The museum plan includes gathering areas, nooks, wellness spaces, and flexible areas where families can pause, regroup, read, rest, or prepare for the next adventure.