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Nov/Dec 2005
child at Waterways exhibit in Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

By Keri Modrall

Once upon a time, in the heart of San Jose, Calif., there was a museum where kids could touch any object they wanted. And, actually, it’s still there.

Every nook and cranny of the bright purple, 52,000 square-foot Children’s Discovery Museum is filled with hands-on exhibits. There are more than 150 in all, including Boing, which is all about things that wind, wiggle, and stretch—from rubber band race cars to life-size marionettes. In Streets, kids can climb into a real fire truck, ambulance, and Model-A Ford. In the Wonder Cabinet, a 3,500 square-foot space specifically designed for toddlers, little ones can finger paint, walk through a child-size kaleidoscope, or perform a puppet show. At the Crawl-Through Tunnel, babies can play with mirrors, dioramas, and an aquarium in the floor. Older kids can experiment with a ham radio set.

You’ll need a couple of hours to really experience the museum; however, if your time is short, so be sure to check out Oh Seuss! Off to Great Places. Created by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, this traveling exhibit celebrates Dr. Seuss’s 100th birthday. Kids can build a life-size throm-dim-bu-lator, unschlump a 10-foot-tall Borfin, or climb aboard the Green Eggs and Ham train.

If this leaves your stomach growling, head to the café for kid-friendly fare such as grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

  If You're Going . . .

Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday noon-5 p.m.

General admission $7; seniors 60 and older $6. Children under a year old are free.

180 Woz Way, San Jose. (408) 298-5437, www.cdm.org.

 

Photography courtesy of Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

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This article was first published in Nov 2005. Some facts
may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.


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