Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DISCOVERY CENTER
DISCOVERY CENTER. A hands-on opportunity for children to explore their environment was the creation of Winnie Thompson and Mary Coan. Destined for the ICE HARBOR, the Center was planned for the HARBOR PLACE MALL with a targeted opening in November. KDUB-TV was supplying a television exhibit while MEDICAL ASSOCIATES CLINIC PC (THE) was offering eyeglasses for children to experience. Donations and volunteers were being sought in October. (1)
The nonprofit children's museum located upstairs at Harbor Place Mall was filled with farm toys, building blocks, a piano on which to play, a mini-hospital, mini-dentist office, mini-bank, mini-radio station, mini-television station, and more. The idea came to Thompson after visiting other children's museums with his granddaughter. (2)
Looking for volunteers continued to be a major focus of museum activity. In 1995 the museum advertised its need for volunteers to help with admission, assist children with some exhibits, and keep the displays in order. The hours the museum was open were listed as 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. p.m. on Sunday. (3)
By 1997 the term "discovery center" for many had come to mean one of the attractions for the soon to be constructed NATIONAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM.
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Source:
1. Krapfl, Mike. "Museum Open to Curiosity," Telegraph Herald, October 11, 1993, p. 3A
2. Krapfl, Mike, "Children Discover Learning," Telegraph Herald, December 19, 1993, p. 3
3. "Volunteers," Telegraph Herald, December 17, 1995, p. 46