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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 >
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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
1988 > Achieved nonprofit 501(C)(3) status.
1990 >
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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 >
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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 >
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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".
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
1997 >
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Completion of Phase I and delivery of exhibits
Recruitment and training of Professional Staff and volunteers
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
1999 >
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Rancho Mirage Nonprofit of the year Award
Served over 50,000 visitors
2000 >
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Add Design Corner (Interior Design Exhibit)
Add Westfield Shoppingtown Mall Exhibits (Outreach Program)
Served over 55,000 visitors
2001 >
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Ranked #20 in the nation; #2 in California
Served over 56,000 visitors
2002 >
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Rancho Mirage Nonprofit of the year Award
Served over 55,000 visitors
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<;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.


 

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© 2008 Children’s Museum Of The Desert
Phone 760-321-0602 FAX 760-321-1605
71-701 Gerald Ford Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Privacy Policy, Hours of Operation, Admission and Directions, Membership, cdminfo@cdmod.org