Stepping Stones Museum for Children
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| Established | 2000 |
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| Location | 303 West Avenue Norwalk, Connecticut, United States |
| Type | Children's museum |
| Website | www.steppingstonesmuseum.org |
Stepping Stones Museum for Children is a hands-on children's museum for ages 10 and under located at 303 West Avenue, in the Central section of Norwalk, Connecticut.
The museum's interactive exhibit areas include: "Energy Lab"; a "Multimedia Gallery" with a theater, a state-of-the-art broadcast studio, and an 35-foot (11 m)-by-12-foot (3.7 m)-foot high-definition screen; "Healthyville", with exhibits about bodies and healthy living; "Tot Town", an exploration area just for toddlers; "Family and Teacher Resource Center" where parents, caregivers and teachers have access to the latest and best information and programs about learning through play, early literacy, 21st century learning skills and the developmental needs of young children, helping them to facilitate a child’s learning – at home or at school.
The entrance lobby houses ColorCoaster, a 27-foot (8.2 m) kinetic sculpture designed by artist George Rhoads.
The garden features three Kinetic Energy Sculptures designed by Beinfield Architecture, which use local solar, wind and water energy to delight and instruct museum-goers. This colorful set of kinetic sculptures demonstrate simple principles of energy generation while creating percussive music.
In 2011 the museum received LEED Gold Certification. Recognized by the Governor of Connecticut as one of the first projects in the state to achieve LEED Gold status, the design employs a range of solutions, from energy efficiency and use of alternative energy sources, to ensuring healthy indoor air quality to water conservation. The building achieves a unique harmony between the site, the structure and the exhibits. Each element was harnessed to enhance the educational mission of the museum.
The museum is located in Mathews Park, adjacent to the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, a gallery and studio for printmaking, and Devon's Place, a playground designed for all children to play together, including those with physical, sensory and mental challenges.
Stepping Stones was founded in 2000 by Gigi Priebe. In its first 10 years of operation, the museum received two million visits.
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