Our Mission:

• through fun, educational, hands-on learning experiences. 
• exploring the mix of sciences, arts and humanities. 
• sparking the joy of discovery about themselves, others, where they live and the larger world around them. 
• through learning with and from their parents and teachers.

CDM Staff

Executive Director John Kelsch has an M.A. in Museum Administration from New York University. One of the CDM's founders, he is responsible for our administrative and financial management. E-mail John at: director@cdmkids.org.

Museum Secretary Polly Edington has clerked at the Grand Rapids Public Library. She manages the CDM office, coordinates school visits to the museum and arranges CDM appearances at elementary school staff meetings. E-mail Polly at: office@cdmkids.org.

CDM Board of Directors

Officers:
Douglas P. Miner, President
Jonathan S. Miner, Vice President
Vickie Rassmussen Wilcox, Secretary

Directors:
John Licke
Ray Nikkel
Julie Sandstrom
Corinne Jacobson
Jerry Miner
Jeff Borg
Jan Bailey
Susie Stauffer

Geographic Service Area:
Preschool, K-5 students, teachers and parents living in the 10 counties of Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching and St. Louis

General Information:
Founded: 1994

Facility:
Grand Opening: June 2003
Size of Building: 15,000 square feet

Organization Type:
A Minnesota non-profit, educational corporation
IRS Determination: 501 c(3) exempt
Federal EIN Number: 41-1790485
Governance: 12 member board of directors
Staff: 1 full time, 4 part time
Executive Director: John A. Kelsch, MA Museum Administration, New York University
Volunteers: 128
Members: 973
Annual Memberships: Adult - $25, Family - $35, Grandparent - $45, Discoverer - $100

Total Capital Investment: $2.2 million
Capital Funding Sources:
70% private (221 private capital donors)
30% state/city/county government
Annual Operating Budget: $250,000 62% earned revenue 38% contributed income

One of the only children's museums located in a rural area in a town of less than 8,000 people anywhere in the US.
One of only three children's museums in Minnesota, and of 400 in the nation

School Service Program Attendance:
• Communities served since 2000: 65
• School class visits since 2000: 650
• Number of schools served: 144
• K-5 students served in groups since 2000: 27,807

Type of Exhibits:
• Geo Zoooom (geography of North America)
• River Town (a miniature town setting)
• River Water Table (configured like the Mississippi River)
• Tot Park Maze (for toddlers)
• Dino dig (highlighting dinosaurs and archeology)
• "Treesa" (the talking tree teaches kids about nature in Northern Minnesota)

Campus of diverse attractions on 2 acres of donated land:
• The Children's Discovery Museum building and interactive exhibits
• The restored Judy Garland Historic House
• World's largest collection of Judy Garland & Wizard of Oz memorabilia, including the carriage used in Wizard of Oz film.
• One acre public garden

Attraction Partners-Coordinated Field Trips:
Forest History Center, Central School, Reif Performing Arts Center, Grand Rapids Area Library, MacRostie Art Center

Selected Grant Awards:
• State of Minnesota DEED
• Mardag Foundation
• Blandin Foundation
• Qwest Foundation
• Itasca County
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation
• City of Grand Rapids
• Iron Range Resources
• Northland Foundation
• Wells Fargo
• US Bank

Museum Hours:
The Children’s Discovery Museum is open

Admission:
General admission for all ages is $7 per person - age one & under FREE! Includes The Judy Garland Museum®. $3.00 per student school discount rate (for 20 or more)

Gift Shop

The CDM Museum Store offers a wide variety of inexpensive kid-themed toys, books and materials as well as Wizard of Oz souvenirs.

Children's Discovery Museum
2727 US Hwy 169 South
PO Box 724
Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Phone:

866-CDM-KIDS (toll-free) (866-236-5437)
218-326-1900
Fax 218-326-1934