Please direct all media inquiries to:
Danielle Ripperton, Executive Director
Sarah Moseley, Director of Development & Marketing
Children’s Museum of Richmond unveils new mobile exhibit
January 23, 2023
The Children’s Museum of Richmond (CMoR) will be bringing their newest exhibit to kids across central Virginia after it officially opens Monday, January 23, 2023.
BUILD IT, the museum’s newest interactive exhibit, will feature three traveling modules; a PVC build, “Tectonic Testers” and a “Three-Sided Vertical Build with a tangram wall, gravity run, and geoboard station.”
Filling the Bins at the Children’s Museum of Richmond Book Bank
December 19, 2022
“This holiday season, the Book Bank shelves are a little bare — except for mostly boxes of books already designated for distribution. So far this year, the Book Bank has already distributed nearly 10,000 books donated by the community.
So, what’s it like when a child is given a book that they can keep and read over and over? Andoh said the look on their faces “is to die for. It’s amazing. They took the book, they look through it, and they’re like, ‘can I keep it?’ I’m like, ‘yes, it’s yours.’ I give our books to the children and their faces a light up.”
A Quiet Word: 2022 Sensitive Santa
December 19, 2022
“Trust Santa to know what children really need.
For the past 10 years, Richmond’s Legendary Santa, who spends time at the Children’s Museum of Richmond’s downtown location prior to his round-the-world journey on Christmas Eve, has made a special effort to meet with children for whom a traditional noise- and crowd-filled visit doesn’t feel jolly and fun. In special sessions, Sensitive Legendary Santa is able to help children with sensory or other special needs enjoy their interaction, whether on his lap, in his chair or standing nearby. The lights are lower, the room is quieter, and Santa can make a connection with his visitor in an especially soothing manner.
How This Christmas Event Makes Seeing Santa Inclusive to All Children
December 8, 2022
“The holiday season can be one that is chaotic for many families. However, the chaos can make the situation worse or unbearable for some kids who have sensory issues.
The Children’s Museum of Richmond is hoping to change that experience with their collaboration with VCU’s College of Health Professions for their annual Sensitive Santa event.”
Train of Thought
June 30, 2022
“You need not travel to Azusa, Anaheim, Cucamonga or even Staples Mill Road to introduce the kids to passenger train travel. The Children’s Museum of Richmond’s downtown location (coincidentally next to the former Union/Broad Street Station, today the home of the Science Museum of Virginia), in association with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, presents the Amtrak Virginia train exhibit.
Richmond’s mayor provides grant to explore universal preschool, could start in fall 2024
May 12, 2022
“At the Children’s Museum of Richmond, Mayor Levar Stoney announced a $50,000 grant to the Children’s Funding Project, among others.
The goal is to complete a study on the concept to see how many children would benefit from a universal preschool and how much it would cost.
Children’s Museum of Richmond Launches Amtrak Train Exhibit
April 24, 2022
“The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is launching an Amtrak train exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Richmond that will be on display for three years.
It is a multi-media, experiential learning STEM exhibit that the museum hopes will inspire a new generation of train lovers.”
Review: Learn about Farm Life Through Chesterfield Children’s Museum New Exhibit
January 2022
“The Childrens’ Museum of Richmond has always encouraged learning through play. The interactive and engaging exhibits allow children to do just that; and, with the new harvest exhibit at the Chesterfield location, CMoR’s young patrons are learning about farm life without actually setting foot on farmland.
Located in the large space at the rear of the museum, the harvest exhibit immediately attracted my 3 year old as he made a beeline straight for it. Organized, clean and bright, the exhibit appeals to both parents and children alike.
The Language of Play
November 4, 2021
“Hitesha Patel of Chesterfield, mom of three-year-old Amaiya, says the Children’s Museum of Richmond is hands-down one of her family’s favorite places to visit. She’s not alone, but there’s a unique reason this parent appreciates CMoR as much as she does. “My daughter is an only child, and CMoR gives her the exposure to play, learn, and share with other kids her age – socializing and exploring together,” says Patel, who lives in Chesterfield.
Children’s Museum Announces Change in Leadership
November 7, 2019
The Children’s Museum president and CEO Shannon Venable, who announced in May her plans to retire by the end of the year, will officially step down next month, with Danielle Ripperton joining the organization as president and CEO on December 2, 2019, after an extensive search by the Board of Trustees launched in June.
Just Joan: Artist Nastassja Swift Brings Wool to Life at the Children’s Museum
November 4, 2019 – Richmond Family Magazine
Coming back to Richmond was a homecoming of sorts for visual artist Nastassja Swift. The Virginia Commonwealth University alum is currently creative in residence at the Children’s Museum, spending many of her days crafting a one-of-a-kind sculpture for the museum. Read More.