Upper Peninsula Children's Museum of Marquette, Michigan

The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum is located on Baraga Avenue, right on the out-skirts of Marquette Michigan's Historic Downtown Business District and conveniently enough, right next door to the Marquette Food Co-op health food store, an attraction all in itself, near the shores of the Lake Superior shoreline. The UPCM is housed in a large white, two-story building that makes home for the children's museum. It features prominent multi-colored hand-prints that are replicated by that of a child.

The UPCM is supported privately by individuals and local businesses far and wide thought the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and not by the local tax base. They hold special events thought the year as to raise money to keep the UPCM conveniently open.

Hours of Operation are: Mon-Wed; 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Thurs; 10:00 AM - 7:30pm, Friday; 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Saturday; 10:00 AM - 6:00pm, and Sunday; Noon - 5:00 PM. Admission fee(s); Infants - Free, Children; $5, Adults; $5, Family Rate Membership; $25

Just one of the events held to support the UPCM is a Celebrity Art Auction for adults, in which locally "famous" artists have their art works auctioned off to raise the support dollars needed for the Upper Peninsula Children's Museum and features wine tasting and a Saykllys Chocolate fountain for nibbling.

What makes the UPCM so unique is the many engaging interactive exhibits that feature a hands-on exploratory learning experience and environment dedicated for children in mind. It is also a very safe environment for children and their families.

Some of the hands-on exhibits displayed there are the Cloverland Car Garage, the Over The Air exhibit that allows a child to communicate to an actual plane within the building via the air traffic control and even forecast the weather on TV broadcast from the studio of Radio UPCM.

They also have a multitude of programs for the children and their families such as the French Soiree day, sponsored by the Northern Michigan University French students, The Discover Local History programs where staff becomes local historical figures, the Discover our State program that uses role playing of why people live, work and play here in the State of Michigan. They even have a Core Democratic Values program allows children partake of role-play and Democratic choice making.

The Upper Children's Museum is truly an interactive experience for both child and parent and will not only allow a child the freedom of exploration and play but a learning experience as well.

Source: UPCM