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Discovery Playhouse gets a boost, still needs donations
Friday, February 27, 2009, Editiorial, Southeast MissourianRenovation of the Walthers building on Broadway in Cape Girardeau is going a bit slower than Martha Brown, president of the Southeast Missouri Children's Museum board, would like. But the Discovery Playhouse, an interactive, hands-on museum for children, is still expected to open sometime this spring. That effort got a boost this week with a $10,000 donation from the Bank of Missouri.
Getting donations is tough at a time when many not-for-profit organizations in our area are struggling to keep pace with community needs. The Discovery Playhouse offers Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits to its benefactors. And there are efforts to be as frugal as possible to convert the former retail building into a museum destination. Volunteers are providing valuable services, and the museum board got quite a bargain when it purchased needed items from the former K's Merchandise building that was demolished last year to make way for a new medical building.
Plans for the Discovery Playhouse so far include an old firetruck, an ATM that dispenses play money, a Schnucks-sponsored grocery area and a fitness area sponsored by Southeast Missouri Hospital.
The museum board has a six-year lease on the Walthers building but hopes to be able to purchase it, if there are enough donations. There also are plans to expand the Discovery Playhouse on the building's second level.
More information about the Discovery Playhouse, including how to make a donation, can be found on its website, discoveryplayhouse.org.
The Discovery Playhouse
The Discovery Playhouse
Tax Credits have been approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development for the renovation of a historic building in downtown Cape Girardeau. Renovations are underway on our new location at 502 Broadway, at the corner of Middle Street. We have a lease/purchase agreement on the new building which has a total of 18,000 square feet and is located in the heart of the Broadway corridor in downtown Cape Girardeau. With the help of a number of sponsors, new exhibits are being developed for our new space, including a 1952 fire truck that the kids can climb into!!!
We are busy renovating the building at 502 Broadway, adding new plumbing, wiring, heating/cooling system and a sprinkler system. We are relying on volunteer labor to keep costs down, so it is slow going - but much progress is being made. We are hopeful that we will be open in late fall of 2008. Stay tuned for great things to come!!
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Discovery Playhouse News!
Cape children's museum gets $10,000
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Location
502 Broadway
(at the corner of Middle Street)
Cape Girardeau MO 63703
Email:
info@discoveryplayhouse.org
Phone: TBA
Mailing Address
Southeast Missouri Children’s Museum
PO Box 1251
Cape Girardeau MO 63702
