Kid at heart

摘要

Motorists in cars whizzing through the nearby railroad underpass or walking along Washington Street can't help but notice the brightly colored building situated near downtown Naperville. The city, located about 48.3km (30 mi) west of Chicago, has grown from a sleepy farming community to the fourth largest city in Illinois. The building houses one of the community's bright spots: The DuPage Children's Museum (DCM). Louise Beem and Dorothy Carpenter, two early childhood educators from Hinsdale, Illinois, founded the museum in 1987. They wanted to provide young children with interactive learning experiences that focused on math, science, and art and where these subjects intersect. At first the museum and its exhibits traveled to park districts, scout troops, preschools and other organizations. In 1989, the DCM opened a temporary location in the Elmhurst Park District. A full-time pilot location was made possible in 1992 when the Museum moved to the Wheaton Park District Community Center. This meant the Museum could be open more hours and move from seasonal to year-round operation.