General Info

In 1979, Kidspace Children's Museum officially launched at the California Institute of Technology. A community project of the Junior League of Pasadena, Kidspace addressed a critical educational need in the San Gabriel Valley: increased access to the arts, humanities and sciences for children. Volunteers created and presented a prototype interactive exhibit, "Making Senses," designed to stimulate the interest and curiosity of children by featuring robotics and neon light displays. Ten thousand young visitors, their parents and teachers participated in the first exhibition during its six-week run, a significantly larger turnout than the 2,000 visitors expected. In 1996, the Kidspace Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan to grow the museum from a small local attraction to a major Southern California cultural and educational destination. In 2002, Kidspace closed its former site at McKinley School in Pasadena and began renovation of the historic Fannie Morrison Horticultural Center buildings at Brookside Park in the Arroyo Seco. The new Kidspace features world-class exhibitry and 2.2 acres of outdoor learning environments designed to encourage children to discover the excitement of learning while engaging in the creativity of play. At Kidspace, children can unleash an earthquake, feed giant bugs, craft art through nature and climb raindrops 40 feet into the air. With endless possibilities to create, discover and explore, no two visits to Kidspace are ever alike.