Exhibits

The heart and soul of the Museum is our visitors and the quality of their experience. The exhibits were conceived with children and their open ended learning experience at the core. The Museum exhibits are a celebration of exploration and discovery – filled with innovative and richly layered cognitive experiences for toddlers through pre-teens. The Museum boasts over three floors of hands-on powerful play experiences that inspire the love of learning.

Children's Discovery Museum announces NEW Healthy Me! Kids' Medical Exhibit!
Overview of Healthy Me! Exhibit

After years of healthy maintenance and almost 2 million visitors, the Children’s Discovery Museum has announced it is time to replace its popular Kid’s Medical Center exhibit.

“Our medical exhibit debuted when we first opened our doors in Uptown Normal 15 years ago,” said Beth Whisman, Executive Director of the Children’s Discovery Museum and the Town of Normal Cultural Arts Department.

Concept sketches of “Healthy Me!” show the 1,000-square foot exhibit will be located on the first floor of the museum with two gallery spaces that explore personal and community wellness. The future installation’s plans are still in the works, but early details include an ambulance, a health clinic, and a hospital setting. Components will also introduce different areas of medicine, explore innovations in technology, and offer a role-playing environment.

“Play can help alleviate fears and anxieties about seeing a doctor or going to the dentist,” Whisman shared. “We are going to work with local healthcare professionals as we plan the final details to make sure that a child’s experience in the museum is relevant to their experience in the real world. The power of play takes on a critical role as we help children establish a lifelong expectation for access to health care and self-advocacy with their caregivers.”


The Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports the mission and vision of the Children’s Discovery Museum through raising funds and awareness in the community. The Foundation’s fundraising goal to build the exhibit is $350,000 with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2020.

Contact Beth Whisman at Bwhisman@normal.org or 309-433-3447 or Amy Pitzer at Apitzer@normal.org or 309-433-3448 about making a gift or pledge towards the new Medical Exhibit. 

Thank you to our early Donors!

OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois

OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center

Advocate BroMenn Medical Center

Dean and Patricia Messinger

Commerce Bank

Children’s Center for Dentistry

Drs. Renee and Greg Dietz

The Ogunleye Family

Community Cancer Center

The McLean County Dental Society

Pediatric Smiles of Bloomington

Sharon Alberts

Barbara Bowman

Paul and Trudy Vogel

Myers Family Foundation

Omar S. Khokhar, MD

Carole and Jerry Ringer

Bloomington Family Dental – Drs. John and Stacey Van Scoyoc

Dr. Daniel and Debra Brownstone

Marlene and Larry Dietz

Dr. Jerry and Debbie Grieco

Caroline and Ira Halperin

Dr. Thomas E. Nielsen, MD and Kathryn S. Bohn, MD

Theresa and Joe Prosser

The Owen Foundation

Twin City Plastic Surgery

Beth Whisman

Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation

*Donors as of January 2, 2020






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