Appropriately, it was children who put the finishing touches on the Great Lakes Children's Museum during the grand re-opening celebration Saturday morning.
Opening in their new Greilickville home on M-22 north of Tom's West Bay, the museum threw open it's doors after a year in transition.
More than 400 people of all ages streamed in throughout the day, inaugurating the exhibits with their enthusiasm. Babies and toddlers frolicked in a new Toddler Beach corner while other children splashed at the new water table, put their handprint on a banner, explored a two-story lighthouse keeper's quarters and romped on the weather exhibit.
"I'd say there was a pent-up demand for the Children's Museum in our community," observed John Noonan, executive director of the facility.
Former museum member Kristy Dominiak attended with her three children, thrilled that one of the family's favorite destinations was again open.
"We missed it, my youngest has never even been here," she said. "I have three kids so we need this in the winter for sanity."
The Farrell family of Traverse City have been members of the organization from the beginning. Attending the opening Saturday, Kathy and her son, Chad, 8, reflected on the past year without the museum.
"My son was very disappointed every time we'd go by," she noted of the old site. "His grandma lives along this way and every time we'd drive by we'd watch the progress."
At 5,400 square foot, the new location is just slightly larger than the museum's former West Front Street home. However, the vividly colored and brightly lit interior was arranged to be roomier and have better traffic flow.
"Anything in the community that brings families and kids together for quality educational experience is a gift," said Maureen DeYoung, president of the museum's board of directors.
Conceived of in 1998 by two moms, the Great Lakes Children's Museum evolved quickly from an idea into a nonprofit organization with a modest traveling exhibit. Riding a wave of community support and excitement, the museum opened in a downtown West Front Street location in August 2001, ahead of their initial schedule.
After four years and more than 120,000 visitors, the organization closed for relocation in September of 2005. For the next year, museum staff, volunteers and board members sorted out issues and directed the renovation of the building donated by Mike Dow.
A $100,000 leadership grant from Rotary Charities, used to convert the building from a boating supply and repair store, plus a flood of support from the community and the construction industry funded the $300,000 cost. Three other organizations have buildings of the property thanks to Dow's generosity: the Maritime Heritage Alliance, The Watershed Center and Traverse Area Community Sailing.
Fighting back tears during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Cara Colburn found great satisfaction at the continuation of her and co-founder Pam McGraw's dream. The pair connected because of a shared interest in bringing an educational museum to the area and the results have surpassed their wildest hope.
"There's nothing more humble that watching this," said Colburn of the swarming young attendees enjoying the new facility. "Everybody took the ball and here it is. As a founder, to see that happen, oh, my God: there's nothing like having a dream and seeing it come true."
The Great Lakes Children's Museum, 13240 S. West Bayshore Drive, is open on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. The museum is open on Mondays only when the Traverse City Area Publics Schools are not in session, with hours on those days from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for everyone 2 years old and older.