CLICK TO HEAR ANDREA TOURANGEAU TALK WITH JACK HALL
The Dream Maker Children’s Museum Board is honored and beyond excited to announce that the former Carnegie Library building on 7th street in Escanaba will soon come back to life as the home of the children’s museum.
After countless hours spent on wants, needs, pros and cons lists and several different location tours the team stepped into the former library and everything just felt right.
“I think each of us had a unique “aha” moment upon entering the building,” Andrea Tourangeau, DMCM board member said. “For some it was the historic charm, others the bright and open feeling, and for myself I was intrigued by the location but it was just the “holy cow, this is it” feeling when I stepped inside that really won me over.’”
Board member Karissa Dagenais agreed.
“I missed the first walk through of the building, but when I was sent just a few pictures of the inside, I instantly knew this was it.”
The space offers more than nostalgia, with its large windows, strong bones and open floor plan, the former library is a dream space for the future community gem.
The goal for the Dream Maker Children’s Museum is to establish a community space that connects children and families through imagination, exploration, and learning.
The museum will offer a safe, indoor and outdoor space that will immerse visitors in experiences and create lasting memories.
The innovative, hands-on and interactive exhibits will be designed to inspire young minds and reflect the rich history and unique culture of Delta County.
“For all of that to happen in a building that still sits famous to locals and was a foundation for the learning taking place here for decades, decades ago feels magical to us,” Tourangeau said.
The building has been preserved and structurally maintained by Paul and Marcia Neumeier for the past 30 years, and they are happy to see the noble building going back to serve the community.
“Paul and Marcia kept the building sound, and they have been so helpful and supportive to the process, equally excited to see the building reach its full potential,” said Karissa Dagenais, DMCM board member.
The Dream Maker Children’s Museum board is incredibly grateful to the community for their support so far.
‘The community donations and well wishes really have helped carry the project forward thus far, the enthusiasm made it impossible for us to give up,” Tourangeau said. “Now the heavy lifting begins, a core value of the Dream Maker Children’s Museum is that it will be affordable and accessible for everyone.”
“We can’t make that happen with a mortgage and financing the costly renovations needed to make the building accessible and to bring it up to code. There are grant opportunities out there we are honed in on, and we need matching funds for some of those as well.”
To learn more about the various sponsorship opportunities you can call Andrea Tourangeau at 906-786-9300 ext. 101 or email dreammaker4kids@gmail.com.
To stay updated on progress, upcoming events, and ways to get involved, please like and follow the Facebook page: Dream Maker Children’s Museum. A web page is also in the works.
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