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who we are
core values
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Wellness
We believe that play intrinsically enriches both physical and mental wellness
Creativity
We engage imaginatively with our community to spark creativity
Equity
We strive to serve our community with equal and fair resources for everyone
Accessibility
We welcome all children into an accessible environment
Community
We create safe and inclusive spaces for community building
Positivity
We promote positivity by creating spaces full of play and healthy interactions with our community
Growth
We commit to growing as a reflection of our community’s needs, both in our physical space and in our educational offerings to serve the growth of our children
mission​​
It is our mission to inspire and connect families through discovery and the power of play.
At the Fairbanks Children’s Museum, we believe childhood is powered by curiosity, creativity, and connection. Like children’s museums around the world, we are committed to serving as an accessible and enriching community resource where children and families can learn, play, and grow together.
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vision​​
We seek to offer an early childhood development and informal learning resource to parents, families and early childhood educators in the
Interior that reflects and represents the diverse expressions of our community.
our story
In 2006, a small group of Fairbanksans began discussing the idea of opening a children's museum in the Interior. After years of research and community engagement, in 2011, the initial Board of Directors was expanded and the Fairbanks Children's Museum received their 501(c)3 nonprofit status from the IRS.
The Museum Without Walls program kickstarted the museum's journey and received an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from the community. Monthly events, featuring play-based exhibits and creative activities, helped to spread the news about the Fairbanks Children's Museum around Fairbanks and the surrounding areas.
In 2013, the University of Alaska Museum of the North invited the Fairbanks Children's Museum to open a temporary "mini-museum" over the winter of 2013-2014, so that families had regular access to the museum while fundraising and exhibit building continued.
After almost 10 years of planning, countless board meetings, and numerous fundraising endeavors, the Fairbanks Children’s Museum opened its doors to the community on January 31, 2015. Over 1,600 people visited the museum on opening day and within the first year, the museum had over 35,000 visitors and 892 family memberships.
Today, we continue to focus on bridging the gap between learning and play while we grow as a great family resource for communities in the Interior!
we are a non profit
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means every admission, membership, donation, sponsorship, and grant directly supports our mission to provide connect families in our community through play and discovery. Rather than generating profits for owners or shareholders, our resources are reinvested into exhibits, educational programming, outreach initiatives, accessibility efforts, and the daily operations that keep the museum welcoming, engaging, and affordable for families.
As a community-supported nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of donors, businesses, grant partners, volunteers, and visitors who believe in the importance of childhood, early learning, and family connection. This support allows us to expand access through scholarships, reduced-cost programs, free community events, outreach activities, and inclusive experiences designed to meet the diverse needs of children and caregivers across Interior Alaska.
We are lucky to exist in a community that helps us ensure that every child has opportunities to learn, explore, create, and thrive through the power of play!
play = learning
Our trained educators design play-based exhibits, programs, and classes that invite children of all ages to explore through hands-on, multi-sensory, and child-centered experiences. Every space in the museum is intentionally created to spark imagination, encourage joyful discovery, and support meaningful learning through play.
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Through interactive exploration, children build confidence, strengthen social and emotional skills, and develop a deeper connection to the world around them. We are proud to provide a welcoming environment where families can create memories, discover new interests, and experience the wonder of learning together.
Contact us at hello@fairbankschildrensmuseum.com or
call 907-374-7060