Who
We Are:
The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
is a private nonprofit institution founded
in 1986 by a group of concerned citizens who
wanted to provide an environment where children's
intellectual curiosity and self-expression
could be freely expressed through play. Their
goal was to provide inventive and interactive
exhibits and programs which encourage children
to learn about themselves and the world around
them.
What We Do:
Today, The Children's Discovery Museum of
the Desert is where youth, families, teachers
and the community collaborate and participate
in joint projects and partnerships in learning.
It is where we celebrate the rich cultural
diversity of the Coachella Valley, and broaden
understanding and tolerance. More than 20,000
children and their families were served annually
by our programs and services before the opening
of the new facility. Now statistics show the
Museum may serve almost 100,000 per year.
Where We Are:
The Museum's beautiful 18,000 square foot
complex is located at 71-701 Gerald Ford Drive,
Rancho Mirage. The four acre site was donated
by The Honorable Walter Annenberg and the
facilities were built with the donation of
public and private funds. Its proximity to
Interstate 10 provides excellent access for
the Valley's 46,000 school children.
How We Grew:
| 1986 |
> |
Conceived by a group of concerned
private citizens.
|
| 1987 |
>
>
> |
City of Palm Desert Funding for museum
needs assessment and facility
Incorporated in the state of California.
Charter member in Association of Youth
Museums
|
| 1988 |
>
|
Achieved nonprofit 501(C)(3) status.
|
| 1990 |
>
> |
Initiated outreach programs in the
schools.
Opened Museum office and first exhibits.
|
| 1991 |
>
|
$1.6 million Building Trust Fund created
by Cove Cities: Rancho Mirage, Palm
Desert and Indian Wells.
|
| 1992 |
>
> |
Winner of the California Teachers
Association State Gold Award.
First Annual Educator's Community Resource
Faire.
|
| 1994 |
>
|
First traveling exhibit "Garbage...
and all that Trash" at the Palm
Desert Town Center Super Saturdays Open
Museum
|
| 1995 |
>
>
>
> |
Discovery Edu-Kits Outreach Program
introduced.
Family Theater Series partnership with
the Rancho Mirage Parks and Recreation
Museum Partnerships with Scholastic,
Microsoft, Crayola and the Los Angeles
Times
International children's art exhibition
"Discover My World".
|
| 1996 |
>
>
>
> |
Named Nonprofit of the Year by the
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce.
Co-Sponsors of the Celebration of Young
Children in Palm Desert.
Museum Operations in Palm Desert Town
Center Mall June-September
Construction begun September 1996
|
| 1997 |
>
> |
Completion of Phase I and delivery
of exhibits
Recruitment and training of Professional
Staff and volunteers
|
| 1998 |
>
>
>
> |
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony January 29,
1998
Discovery Partners' Adult Fun Night
Opening Celebration January 30, 1998
Grand Opening-free tours to the public
February 1, 1998
Served over 65,000 visitors
|
| 1999 |
>
> |
Rancho Mirage Nonprofit of the year
Award
Served over 50,000 visitors
|
| 2000 |
>
>
> |
Add Design Corner (Interior Design
Exhibit)
Add Westfield Shoppingtown Mall Exhibits
(Outreach Program)
Served over 55,000 visitors
|
| 2001 |
>
> |
Ranked #20 in the nation; #2 in California
Served over 56,000 visitors
|
| 2002 |
>
> |
Rancho Mirage Nonprofit of the year
Award
Served over 55,000 visitors
|
| 2003 |
>
>
>
>
|
Kaleidoscope Traveling exhibit serving
over 8,000 children in 17 days
New Exhibit; Fur Fins Feathers and Fun
w/Animal Samaritans
Rancho Mirage Nonprofit of the year
Award<;br>
Served over 62,000 visitors
|
The Facility:
MGA Partners designed the entire CDMOD complex
of buildings. Their award-winning designs
are known all over the world. The dramatic
angles, curved walls, and floor to ceiling
windows are only a few of the special touches
created by their superior architects.
Exhibit design and fabrication was developed
by Hands On! Inc., a leader in Children's
Museums. Hands On! has invented a unique modular
display system called a SPLINE which provides
for optimum flexibility in retooling and creating
new exhibits. This system, plus Hands On!
relationship with Great Explorations a Children's
Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida where prototypes
of all their exhibits are tested, provided
the Children's Museum of the Desert with the
best in museum exhibit design available today.
The Present:
In addition to the Exhibit gallery, the campus
includes a multipurpose facility named the
Dinah Shore Center, outdoor covered performance
area/amphitheatre, horticultural gardens,
and logo grove. In its first six years of
operation, the Museum has served over 350,000
visitors; including 60,000 children on school
field trips. Summer and Holiday camps, toddler,
art, and dance programs, classes, performances,
family fun days, birthday parties, Museum
store events, and more are held regularly
to augment the highly popular Exhibit Gallery.
The Future:
Planning is underway for utilization of an
additional 2 ½ acres recently donated
to the Museum.
The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert
will now be able to accommodate the needs
of the Valley's growing school-aged population.
Not only will the 50,000 youth from Coachella
Valley be accommodated, but the Museum will
serve as a landmark institution to youth throughout
Riverside County and beyond.
The Museum promises to become an outstanding
cultural and educational institution by
building on an already sound foundation
of collaborative efforts between educators,
parents, businesses and civic organizations.
The Children's Museum of the Desert will
become a visible and lasting sign to the
Children of Coachella Valley that they are
important and that we want their future
to be brightened by the "spark"
of lifelong learning.
For more information, please contact
Lee Anne Vanderbeck, Executive Director
Phone: 760-321-0602 x 103, Fax: 760-321-1605:
71-701 Gerald Ford Drive, Rancho Mirage,
CA 92270. CDMOD is a 501 (c )(3) charity.
Tax ID # 33-023-3725.
|
