Who
We Are:
The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert is a private non-profit 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 |
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Conceived by a group of concerned
private citizens.
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| 1987 |
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City of Palm Desert Funding for museum
needs assessment and facility
Incorporated in the state of California.
Charter member in Association of Youth
Museums
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| 1988 |
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Achieved nonprofit 501(C)(3) status.
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| 1990 |
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Initiated outreach programs in the
schools.
Opened Museum office and first exhibits.
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| 1991 |
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$1.6 million Building Trust Fund created
by Cove Cities: Rancho Mirage, Palm
Desert and Indian Wells.
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| 1992 |
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Winner of the California Teachers
Association State Gold Award.
First Annual Educator's Community Resource
Faire.
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| 1994 |
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First traveling exhibit "Garbage...
and all that Trash" at the Palm
Desert Town Center Super Saturdays Open
Museum
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| 1995 |
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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".
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| 1996 |
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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
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| 1997 |
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Completion of Phase I and delivery
of exhibits
Recruitment and training of Professional
Staff and volunteers
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| 1998 |
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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
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| 1999 |
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Rancho Mirage Nonprofit of the year
Award
Served over 50,000 visitors
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| 2000 |
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Add Design Corner (Interior Design
Exhibit)
Add Westfield Shoppingtown Mall Exhibits
(Outreach Program)
Served over 55,000 visitors
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| 2001 |
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Ranked #20 in the nation; #2 in California
Served over 56,000 visitors
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| 2002 |
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Rancho Mirage Nonprofit of the year
Award
Served over 55,000 visitors
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| 2003 |
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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
Served over 62,000 visitors |
| 2004 |
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Served over 65,000 visitors |
| 2005 |
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Mural Project installed.
Gallery Refurbish
5 New exhibits
Rancho Mirage Non-Profit of the year Award |
| 2006 |
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Served over 64,000 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 multi-purpose facility named the Dinah Shore Center, outdoor covered performance area/amphitheatre, horticultural gardens, and logo grove. In its first nine years of operation, the Museum has served over 585,000 visitors; including 75,000 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.
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.
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