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Matt Sepic

Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota opens in Mankato

The museum opened May 1, 2015
The new children's museum celebrated its grand opening on May 1, 2015.
Courtesy of the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota

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Mankato's new Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota continues its grand opening this weekend. The doors first opened Friday after a decade of planning and fundraising.

The $5 million museum is located in a converted city bus garage. It features a tree fort and a variety of hands-on exhibits, including a quarry. The layout is designed to allow parents to keep tabs on their kids as they move through the exhibits.

"We wanted someplace where a parent could come in, and if they have more than one child, they're able to pretty much see everywhere," said Frost, an early childhood parent educator.

The museum fills a need for parents who wanted more indoor activities in the area, especially in the winter. Frost said the museum is still trying to raise another $400,000 to finish a water exhibit.

The grand opening celebration runs through Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. The museum's regular hours begin Sunday.