Wonder Years: Children's museum marks 20th anniversary

Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City is celebrating 20 years of bringing learning and fun to area children.

A special kick-off event, the Summer Block Party, took place Saturday at the museum, 5700 King St., Shawnee, and at Splash Cove at the Jim Allen Aquatic Center.

The event included a museum open house, music, food, interactive games and activities, and special performers. Other special events will continue at the museum throughout the summer.

Twenty years ago, Sue and Steve Oberhelman, Marcia Garcia, and a group of volunteers had a vision to build a hands-on museum where children would learn through play.

They founded Wonderscope Children's Museum, offering exhibits and programs in a former elementary school in Shawnee and later moved to the site where it is today.

"Wonderscope is in existence today because of the dedication of many, many volunteers," Sue Oberhelman said. "We spent close to 20 to 30 hours a week at Wonderscope preparing for the opening while still working at our regular jobs. There were so many people who threw themselves into the task of opening the museum.

"I don't remember this as a burden, rather it was a privilege to spend time with others who shared the passion for making Wonderscope a quality museum. I am sure that everyone who worked on Wonderscope did it for one reason - educating children through the fun of hands-on exhibits. Wonderscope is truly a family affair and its existence is proof of that."

Also in 1989, Marty Porter, the founder and executive director of Children's Museum of Kansas City, opened the door to its first group tours in the Carriage House of the Kansas State School for the Visually Handicapped.

In 1990, the museum moved into the Indian Springs Shopping Center in Kansas City, Kan., offering exhibits, programming and outreach, and the Recycled Materials Center.

"Over the past 20 years, the children's museum has become an invaluable and proven community resource," Porter said. "The role of the museum has always been to give young children the environment where learning is natural and encouragement is plentiful. It will, no doubt, continue to provide valuable learning experiences for our city's children far into the future."

Last spring, the Children's Museum of Kansas City merged into Wonderscope Children's Museum to become Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City, operating out of the Shawnee site.

The merger effectively brought all of the children's museum interests in the metropolitan area together with a common vision.

As a merged organization, the museum is poised to expand on its strong history in Kansas City and continue to grow. The museum has added a new exhibit, H2Oh!, and plans to add another in late summer. There are long-term plans to build a new, expanded museum. 

For programming and admission information, visit www.wonderscope.org.

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