Children's Museum of Tacoma starts to dig in on JBLM

Children's Museum of Tacoma starts to dig in on JBLM

By Bud McKay

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Garrison Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Where kids used to do "The Hokey Pokey," Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Children's Museum of Tacoma have turned the whole skating rink around to become a satellite museum in 2020.

Officials from JBLM and the Children's Museum of Tacoma hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for the new 21,000-square-foot museum, the first children's museum on a U.S. military base, Wednesday, Nov. 14, inside the vacant JBLM skating rink building.

Colonel Nicole Lucas, JBLM garrison commander, spoke about the buildings on JBLM that have been repurposed for new missions over the last 100 years. She mentioned the former Army Air Corps barracks building, now known as "The Castle" and the home to the 62nd Airlift Wing's headquarters. Another example she used was the old post exchange building on Lewis Main, now known as Waller Hall -- the welcome center for new JBLM service members.

"It's only right that this building, built in 1984 … would be repurposed for a new cause, and that cause is our kids," Lucas said. "We at JBLM are committed to providing this home for the new satellite museum. Moreover, this facility will also serve as the gateway for JBLM Child and Youth Services' programs as our Parent Central Services will be colocated here."

The museum, in partnership with JBLM Child and Youth Services at JBLM, will serve kids with an emphasis on military families' early learners. When it opens in April 2020, it will be adjacent to the JBLM children's water park, the skate park and the Freedom Park outdoor performance venue on Lewis Main -- and it will be free for anyone with access to JBLM.

"Just to give you a little history and context, I said we've been at this for 10 years," said Tanya Durand, Children's Museum of Tacoma's executive director. "We started our partnership with JBLM by bringing our outreach program 'Play to Learn' on base. And we did it at the 'Raindrops and Rainbows' site (on Lewis North). When I walked in to 'Raindrops and Rainbows,' I said, 'Oh my gosh. This is like a super, super-duper humble children's museum or preschool.' And they said, 'Yes, this is the best we can do with what we have.' And I just looked at them and said, 'Would you like a better one?'

"And it really took off from there, and it's been a labor of love for both parties ever since then."

This project is supported by commitments from both the Children's Museum of Tacoma and JBLM. For the Children's Museum of Tacoma, this project is part of its More than a Museum Campaign that strives to broaden its reach past the walls of its Tacoma-based museum.

"It will be more than just a children's museum," Durand said. "It will be more of a community center."

Durand said in less than a year, the museum has raised more than 56 percent of the $10 million needed to complete the project. JBLM has committed to renovate and modify the old skating rink building to ensure it is ready for the museum. The skating rink, which was little-used except by a local women's roller derby team, was losing money and therefore closed more than four years ago.

"The Children's Museum of Tacoma and JBLM aren't setting out on this joint venture alone," Lucas said. "I want to again thank all of the individual and corporate sponsors who are making it possible. It will be so exciting to once again see this building overflowing with kids and filled with laughter."

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