Find Your Grandchild’s Favorites

FIND YOUR GRANDCHILD'S FAVORITES

With over 240,000 square feet of space, there’s a lot to see and do at the Museum. Here are a few tips on what not to miss. Organized by interests, we hope this helps you find your grandchildren’s favorite things.

The Natural World

In the Galleries
Dinosaurs: Meet our 60-foot-long state dinosaur, Paluxysaurus  jonesi , and five  other Texas dinosaurs in DinoLabs.  Rarely are museums able to showcase the real thing found in their back yard. That’s why you won’t find a T-Rex or other more familiar dinosaurs here. Two of these dinosaurs were actually found by children ages 8 and 11!!

Live Animals:  Check out awesome reptiles and live animals in the cases in the Children’s Museum.

Fossils: Play junior paleontologist and dig in DinoDig for fossils from creatures that lived here 95 million years ago

From Our Collection
Birds: Can you match the bird egg with its mother?  Examine the “Bird Eggs” collection in the niche located across from the Children’s Museum

Butterflies: Examine a beautiful collection of butterflies and moths with the giant magnifying in the “Butterflies and Moths” niche.

In the Museum
Trees:  Enjoy the shade under the Heritage Live Oak in the Atrium Courtyard. Planted over  60 years ago, it was preserved during Museum construction with loving care and monthly ladybug  releases.

Technology and Inventions

In the  Galleries
Technology:  Explore real tools used in natural gas exploration and extraction in Energy Blast. The Vibe Truck and the alternative energy city are favorites of young children. The 4D theater at the entrance to the exhibit is an amazing experience but may be too overwhelming for children 5 and under.

From our Collection
Cameras:  See 80 years of technological change in this nicke. How many of these have you actually used in your lifetime?

Vintage Toys: From Barbie to Cabbage Patch Dolls to Erector Sets, this niche is a fabulous opportunity to share your memories of your childhood favorites!

In the Museum
Video Wall:  Located in the Atrium, this oversized wall features breaking news, weather and science-related stories

Transporation:  The streetcar (back of the Children’s Museum) and the Popcorn Wagon (in the Omni  lobby) are two opportunities for your grandchildren to see technologies of their great or great-great grandparents.

All Things Artful

In the Galleries
DreamTime : This 50-foot illuminated sculpture is located in the Innovation Gallery. Can you find Elvis? What else can you see? Ask staff for a copy of the scavenger hunt.

From our Collection
Hopi Kachini Dolls: Located in main hallway, these beautiful dolls were carved by a master carver and actually decorated by his children!

Other Interests

In the Galleries
History: Saddle up and find Ride Along Round-up and the “glowing cow,” both kids’  favorites in the Cattle Raisers Museum. And yes, the horses and cows in the exhibit are real!

Space Exploration:  The Noble Planetarium pre-show is available to all guests. See Sputnik 1, an MMU, meteorites found locally, and Viewspace  offering the latest news from outer space. Tickets required for planetarium shows.

Hands-On Experiences

Innovation Studios and the Rotation exhibit are filled with science, technology, engineering, math, digital media and art. Geared for ages 8 and older, these areas can provide hours of exploration and opportunity to use creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

Another hands-down favorite is the gravity well in the Omni Theater lobby.  This is a great location for a family competition!

Fort Worth Children’s Museum: It’s every young child’s number one favorite place! Ages 8 and younger will find all the traditional favorites of childhood:  a grocery store, hospital, trains, building blocks, live animals and outside waterplay. You’ll also find a protected infant play space, family restroom, mother’s nursing room, and even emergency diapers.

Before You Leave:

• Look for a special grandparents section in Shop TOO!, our Museum store, plus meet Bumpersaursus, our whimsical dinosaur slide that was created from recycled car and motorcycle parts.

• You’ll find a wide variety of food options in the Stars Cafe, including daily specials, grab and go items, and meals just for kids. Can you guess the number one selling children’s snack? The Dirt Cup!

• Relax in the Heritage Courtyard amidst a soothing waterfall, gentle acoustics, a shady Heritage Live Oak and lots of seating. By the way, the name of the courtyard’s vibrant color?   Jacaranda!

• Stand in the main entrance and look up! The Urban Lantern is a signature of architects Legorreta + Legorreta.  An engineering feat, the lantern is 76 feet high and features 97 panes of glass weighing almost 50,000 pounds. 

• Outside at the north end of the building, you’ll find the North Courtyard. Pay a visit to the iconic turtle sculpture, our life-sized Acrocanthosaurus, and Fernsworth, our topiary dinosaur. It is believed to be the world’s largest topiary, measuring 62 feet in length and weighing 6 tons.

HAVE A GRAND ADVENTURE!

New this year! Enjoy special Saturday programs just for you and your grandchildren. Beginning November 6, 2010, spend a few hours learning about photography, exploring the Museum’s collections, gazing at the stars, and much more. Find class and registration information here. Grand Adventures are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so sign up for your adventure today! For more information about Grand Adventures, call 817-255-9336 or e-mail kgoolsby@fwmsh.org.