The Bay Area Discovery Museum, located in California, was founded by parents with a focus on early childhood learning. It offers indoor and outdoor experiences, exhibits, and special shows. The museum has won numerous awards and is housed in historic Fort Baker.
An American museum located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, the Bay Area Discovery Museum was created by four parents with a focus on early childhood learning, primarily ages 6 months to 8 years. Located near the Golden Gate Bridge, the museum opened its pilot site at Corte Madera in 1987 and later moved to Fort Baker in 1991. The facility offers unique indoor and outdoor experiences that emphasize learning in a child-oriented environment . In addition, it also hosts permanent exhibitions and a variety of themed special shows throughout the year. He has also received numerous esteemed awards both locally and nationally.
Historic Fort Baker features various unused Army structures that have been redesigned to house the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Since its inception in the fort in 1991, the museum has expanded to house more exhibits and the unique outdoor Lookout Cove. Covering 2.5 acres (one hectare), Lookout Cove is an interactive educational site with an authentic fishing boat to explore, a hiking trail with views of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge, and a shipwreck to discover artifacts. Also outdoors is Imagination Playground, designed by architect David Rockwell, which allows kids to explore and build with oversized construction toys.
Inside, the Bay Area Discovery Museum offers a variety of interactive areas including Bay Hall, Discovery Hall, and the Art Studios. Each area hosts different exhibits and sections for exploration. At Bay Hall, kids can discover Fisherman’s Wharf or enjoy the vintage train at the Trains exhibit. The adventures available at Discovery Hall change throughout the year, while the Art Studios offer opportunities for children to express their creative side through the visual arts.
For younger children, the Tot Spot offers both indoor and outdoor imaginative play. Inside are the Wetlands and Woodlands displays, which help young children learn coordination through rolling, jumping and climbing. Outside, kids can explore The Stream and The Meadow, which feature a stream bed and grassy area.
Both permanent and special exhibits are featured at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Special exhibits are usually themed and focus on areas such as space and animal habitats. Part of the permanent offering includes the Discovery Theater, a 180-seat performing arts theater. Along with the permanent and special exhibitions, the museum hosts special events throughout the year that focus on celebrating special holidays or giving children a glimpse into world cultures with events such as the Chinese New Year celebration.
The Bay Area Discovery Museum has received numerous accolades from both the private and public sectors. In 2005, the California Preservation Foundation recognized the museum with the Preservation Design Award and, in 1992, the museum received the National Historic Preservation Award. Since its inception, the museum has also been recognized as a Top 20 Children’s Museum, Best Children’s Attraction, and Best Family Outing in the United States. From 2005 to 2011, Bay Area Parent magazine awarded the Bay Area Discovery Museum the Silver Medal for Best Museum and the Bronze Medal for Best Child’s Birthday.
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