After navigating through the pandemic and trying to offset expenses with a second location the Forever Curious Children’s Museum downtown Fennville will be permanently closing at the end of the year.
The museum will not disappear entirely, however, as it plans to merge many of its exhibits and activities in a new, yet-to-be-determined location with its sister site, the Michigan-themed Mitten Children’s Museum.
“Financially, it was a struggle for us to just maintain the operations,” said Executive Director Wendi Onuki. “We opened our South Haven location earlier this year hoping the two of them would kind of work in tandem, but it didn’t take long to realize that we really just need to focus on one location and doing it to the best of our abilities.”
Onuki said the decision was not easy.
“It’s hard for me personally,” she said. “I’m so attached to our Fennville location. But, I do think the new chapter we’re going to be embarking on is going to be really amazing. So, I am excited and sad at the same time.”
Forever Curious first opened in 2005 under the creative vision of founder Mary Cone Kasprzyk, serving as an educational, cultural institution that promotes learning through play. The museum, located at 202 East Main Street, has welcomed more than 2,700 visitors through its doors so far this year
We have absolutely loved the many years we have spent in Fennville providing a warm, safe space for hands-on educational fun for thousands of families in Allegan County and beyond,” Onuki said. “So many happy memories have been made and milestones achieved within our walls.”
The Mitten Children’s Museum opened in April in a temporary location – a historic former home at 246 Broadway Street – in downtown South Haven with plans to move into a fully accessible, inclusive space in the next two to three years.
“The plan is to find a permanent space that will house a lot of exhibits from both locations,” Onuki said. “This was just the best way for us to like really focus on our core mission of learning through play.”
The board of directors will be searching in the coming months for a large, barrier-free facility in the Greater South Haven area that can accommodate the diverse exhibits, programming, special events, birthday parties and field trips.
“We want to thank the community for their support and generosity over the years,” Onuki said. “Operating a tiny nonprofit in such a small town has been no easy feat, and we are proud of what we have accomplished together. We can’t wait to see what is next on the horizon and will continue to bring educational explorations to as many local families as we can.”
In Fennville, the big farewell will come in the form of the museum’s popular Noon Year’s Eve party. Families are invited to come out for a final celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 31.
