MANKATO — It takes a community to raise a massive, 2,000-square foot, interactive castle.

“This really has been a community collaboration,” said Peter Olson, director of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota. “So many people, and their passions for early childhood learning, have made this come together.”

As he spoke the words, Olson looked out over dozens of children who attended Thursday’s sneak peak of the museum’s “Amazing Castle” exhibit. The exhibit, which is housed in a storefront near the entrance to Madison East Center, opens officially on Thursday and will remain open throughout the winter and spring.

Developed several years ago by the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul, the castle has traveled to numerous museums from Mexico City to Ottawa to Kalamazoo.

Olson estimated the exhibit — which arrived in Mankato a month ago in a 53-foot semi-trailer — required 280 volunteer hours to assemble and organize. At $15 an hour, Olson said volunteers saved the museum more than $4,200 in labor costs.

In addition, he said, the exhibit has received about $50,000 in donated goods — mostly from the storefront location that Madison East provided at no charge.

And further, Olson said several businesses have made donations for Thursday’s public unveiling of the castle, which will include food, entertainment and a cash-bar fundraiser hosted by RedSky Lounge.

“When I came, I was told that people wanted this to be a community effort,” Olson said of the Children’s Museum. “And I’ve really tried to listen to that.”

Community is an appropriate word, given the castle’s theme.

Featuring about 10 interactive play areas, the castle is focused on the idea of community connectedness. Each play area corresponds to a member of the castle village (tailor, cook, blacksmith, etc.) and includes activities that highlight the importance of that individual’s role in the castle.

The exhibit is tailored for children under 10 years old, but activities are designed to be accessible to all ages.

Museum board member Karen Wahlstrom noted there are no directions, no guidelines and no rules for how kids should play.

“We want them to use their imagination,” she said.

Julia Stevens, 6, said she liked the hens where she collected eggs to be used in the king’s feast. Older brother Ben Stevens, 9, said he liked the workbench where kids helped Gable build either a table or a chair — but without using nails.

“I built both,” he said.

When the exhibit opens for good next week, Olson said there will be several additions made throughout the winter. He’s planning on a Creativity Studio where kids can make their own art, and a family book nook.

Olson also has several college classes at both Minnesota State University and Gustavus Adolphus College who are developing smaller exhibits to run in conjunction with the castle. Olson said the hope is that families will come all winter long and find something new each time (one-time castle tickets are $3 per visitor while season-long family memberships are $35).

But Olson also said he’s also hoping the exhibit will help springboard the museum toward its goal of moving into a permanent location next year.

“That’s the plan,” he said. “We hope this is the last big thing we do before we get a permanent site.”

Tickets for next week’s fundraising event are still available and can be purchased for $25 by calling 507-388-1836.



If You Go
What
Fundraiser for Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota
Where
Madison East Center
When
6 p.m. Thursday
Tickets
$25, includes entertainment, food and cash bar
For more information call 507-388-1836