30 Years of Children's Museum: Our Commitment to Downtown Erie | Opinion

A Legacy of Play and Community

This summer, the Experience Children's Museum is celebrating its 30th anniversary. For three decades, this vibrant institution has been a beacon of creativity, connection, and curiosity in the heart of downtown Erie. What began as a vision by the Junior League of Erie in the early 1990s has grown into a cornerstone of the community, offering families a space where children can explore, learn, and grow.

The founders believed that children and families in Erie County deserved a place to spark their imaginations, envision their futures, and engage with the world around them. They chose to build the museum in the center of the city, not for convenience, but because they believed that children and families belonged downtown. They saw learning as something that should coexist with commerce and culture, and they recognized the power of play in shaping the future of Erie.

The Power of Play

Thirty years later, that belief still guides everything the museum does. From its location at 420 French St., the museum has welcomed generations of families through its doors. It has transformed historic spaces into interactive exhibits, created opportunities for open-ended play, and invested in experiences that inspire creativity and confidence. Throughout it all, the museum has remained committed to one core principle: the power of play.

Play is not just a luxury—it is foundational. It is how children make sense of the world, develop problem-solving skills, empathy, resilience, and joy. In an era where structured schedules and screen time often dominate, preserving spaces for free, child-directed play is more important than ever. Play builds brains, builds communities, and builds the future.

Expanding the Vision

The museum’s recent $18 million expansion brought world-class exhibits that rival those found in major cities, while also providing more room for imagination and discovery. This expansion could have taken the museum in a different direction, but staying downtown was never seen as a compromise. Instead, it was a reaffirmation of the museum’s mission. The team believes in the energy, potential, and people of the downtown corridor.

Downtown Erie is where the community comes together. It is where schools take field trips, families create memories, and curiosity thrives. By creating space for children in the heart of the city, the museum helps build a future where young people feel seen, valued, and inspired right where they are. This approach bridges education, economics, and equity, fosters walkable neighborhoods, retains and attracts families, and encourages people-centered placemaking.

Anchoring the Future

By anchoring itself in downtown Erie, the museum makes a powerful statement: that children deserve access to vibrant urban spaces. Not on the outskirts of town, but in the center. Their laughter, learning, and sense of wonder bring life to the city. As they play, they are not just imagining what’s possible—they are shaping it.

Over the past three decades, the museum has grown alongside Erie. It has witnessed new development, strengthened partnerships, and shared in the energy that comes from believing in what’s possible. While the museum has evolved, its purpose has remained steadfast. It continues to focus on what it has always done best: creating joyful, meaningful experiences that help children thrive.

Gratitude and Celebration

As the museum celebrates this milestone, it is filled with gratitude. It is grateful for the community that continues to support it, for the families who trust it with their time, and for the opportunity to contribute to a city it cares deeply about.

Erie is a place where imagination matters, and for 30 years, the Experience Children's Museum has been proud to help spark it. Through play. Right here, downtown.