Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago is a
children's museum
Children's museums are institutions that provide exhibits and programs to stimulate informal learning experiences for children. In contrast with traditional museums that typically have a hands-off policy regarding exhibits, children's museums fea ...
in
Glenview, Illinois
Glenview is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, approximately northwest of the Chicago Loop. Per the 2020 census, the population was 48,705.
The Village of Glenview is governed by New Trier and Northfield townships. According ...
that provides a hands-on learning laboratory for children ages birth to 8. It is named for philanthropist Dolores Kohl, daughter of the founder of
Kohl’s department stores, who founded the museum through her
education foundation in 1985. Located on an site, including a museum building and a outdoor exhibit space, the museum features exhibits and programs aligned to the Illinois State Learning Standards and designed to make learning fun and interesting for young children.
History
In 1985, the museum was opened as an extension of the Kohl Teaching Center. It was located in
Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Bordering Lake Michigan, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Skokie, Northfield, Glenview, and Evanston, Illinois, it is located north of Chicago's downtown district. Wilmette had a populatio ...
along Green Bay Road (
Illinois Route 131). In 2005, the museum moved to a new location in
Glenview, Illinois
Glenview is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, approximately northwest of the Chicago Loop. Per the 2020 census, the population was 48,705.
The Village of Glenview is governed by New Trier and Northfield townships. According ...
, in "The Glen", the redevelopment of the former
Naval Air Station Glenview site. The new building is roughly twice the size of the original one.
Accessibility
The museum is equally available to guests with any level of physical, visual, auditory, or cognitive challenge. All public areas are 100% ADA-compliant. The facility and all exhibits have been designed using the principles of
universal design
Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors. It emerged as a rights-based, anti-discrimination measure, which seeks to create design ...
, which go beyond accessibility with an approach that uses multi-sensory experiences as educational tools. These experiences allow all guests with any level of physical, visual, auditory, and cognitive ability to experience the Museum and its offerings.
Green building
Kohl Children’s Museum has created an environmentally friendly, energy-efficient facility that has earned Silver-level certification as a LEED (
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a Green building certification systems, green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating ...
) building from the
U.S. Green Building Council.
Signage and activities provide children and families with hands-on learning opportunities about environmental concerns in both the indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces, accessible year-round.
Exhibits
Kohl Children’s Museum houses 17 hands-on, interactive exhibits.
Visitors
Around 350,000 people visit Kohl Children’s Museum each year. The museum has over 7,500 member families.
Outreach programs
For many years, the museum has reached out to underserved and at-risk communities through its Early Childhood Connections program, working primarily with
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools (CPS), officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, in Chicago, Illinois, is the List of the largest school districts in the United States by enrollment, fourth-large ...
. The museum is now able to offer its programs to families in the nearby village and city of
Wheeling and
Waukegan
Waukegan ( ) is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located north of Chicago, Waukegan is a satellite city within the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its popu ...
and has also developed outreach programs on anti-bias initiatives and healthy lifestyles in 2007 and 2008.
References
External links
Kohl Children's Museum
{{Authority control
Children's museums in Illinois
Museums in Cook County, Illinois
Glenview, Illinois