Anchor A Way
Imagine a place where children’s dreams set sail, where every corner inspires wonder, and every gift leaves a lasting legacy.
The Soo Locks Children’s Museum will be that place, and you can help make it a reality. Explore our naming opportunities and become a founding supporter of this transformative community project.
Donate Today
..to strengthen local families
..anchor an economic ecosystem
..educate people about the wonders of the UP
The Project
The Portage Avenue facade of the museum.
Inside the main entry will be the Admissions counter and a small retail space with educational toys to purchase.
The infant/toddler play space will give our youngest visitors an engaging and safe area to explore, contained by a perimeter of soft seating for their caregivers.
Our flagship exhibit will be the Science/Engineering-based water play area, with a boat building station and a hands-on interactive Soo Locks to test their boats.
The water place exhibit continues through a doorway and transforms into a nature-themed water table, with a nearby fish-matching station and interactive tree activity kiosks.
The nature-themed exhibits will also include a Northern Lights display.
Our nature-themed area will also include a multi-level climber to give children a place to get "big energy" out.
Our Sensory Room will provide a soothing space to go when visitors need a break from all of the engagement.
The Maker Space will be a STEAM-based exploration exhibit where children and their families will find both guided and self-led opportunities to learn.
The museum will include a flexible space to accommodate birthday parties and other gatherings.
The Main Street play space will provide opportunities for imaginative play including a bank, a medical clinic, and grocery store. The adjacent Jacobsville Sandstone Construction exhibit will invite children to build with large foam blocks while they learn about the historical connection of the stone to our area.
- Create a 6,000 sq. ft. Children’s Museum.
- Engage diverse groups from the area, including representatives from local native communities, in conversations to plan themes for the exhibits.
- Create 10 interactive, place-based, hands-on exhibits focused on ages 2-12.
- Use these exhibits to shine a light on culturally historic, side-by-side
relationships. - Provide a safe, community-centric space that welcomes residents and tourists year-round.
The Impact
- Sault Ste. Marie is a city full of beauty and history, but it is rural and remote and lacks indoor entertainment options.
- More than one in five people in The Soo live in poverty, and many families struggle to find things to do that are safe, affordable and local.
- The Museum will be a safe, welcoming and affordable space for adults and
children to learn together. - This Children’s Museum will have a powerful impact on the entire community.
- It will be a year-round resource for residents and a tourist attraction that increases dollars spent in the region.
The Cost
| Construction & Renovation Architectural Design Other pre-development Paving & External |
$545,000 |
| Equipment Furniture, fixtures Equipment, exhibits, kiosks Technology infrastructure |
$950,000 |
| Other Two years' operating budget Campaign costs Contingency |
$600,900 |
| TOTAL | $2,095,000 |
Naming Opportunities
| Naming Opportunity | Gift Amount |
|---|---|
| Entire Building Leave a legacy at the heart of our community |
$1,000,000 |
| Main Street Grocery (or other option) Clinic (or other option) |
$500,000 $50,000 $50,000 |
| Maker Space Empowering young makers to dream big! |
$250,000 |
| Exhibit: Science/Engineering Water Table With a mini-lock, empowers STEAM in action! |
$250,000 |
| Exhibit: Freighter | $250,000 |
| Exhibit: Nature Water Table Learn about our ecosystems and indigenous past |
$200,000 |
| Sensory Room A quiet space for children who need a break |
$100,000 |
| Main Entrance | $100,000 |
| Birthday Party Room A welcoming space for celebrations and community events |
$100,000 |
| Exhibit: Jacobsville Sandstone Construction Zone For our future architects and builders! |
$50,000 |
Funded! Thank you James and Kimberly Currie Foundation! |
|
Funded! Thank you Currie and Americana Foundations! |
|
Funded! Thank you James and Kimberly Currie Foundation! |
|
Funded! Thank you James and Kimberly Currie Foundation! |
|
| Exhibit: Slapshot Hockey (LSSU hockey) Inspiring tomorrow's athletes to dream big & play hard |
$25,000 |
Funded! Thank you Sault Ste. Marie CVB! |