The Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum (GCM) is a hands-on, interactive museum for children, their families and educators. The museum aims to inspire learning through play for children in a fun, energetic and safe environment. Located in downtown Greensboro, the 37,000-square-foot facility features more than 20 permanent hands-on “In Our Town” exhibits, an edible schoolyard garden and cooking school, and a new outdoor playground with two Neptune XXL rock climbers. Miriam P. The Brenner Children’s Museum began with one man’s dream to bring a children’s museum to Greensboro. Inspired by traveling to children’s museums across the country, Jerry Hyman began sharing his vision with community leaders. Cynthia Doyle, a local legend of civic engagement and volunteerism, who in turn contacted the Leadership Greensboro alumni group. This group served as a project committee and then launched a capital campaign led by Doyle. Three years later, on May 15, 1999, the Greensboro Children’s Museum opened its doors at 220 N. Kirkkokatu In September 2009, food activist and chef Alice Waters came to Greensboro to open an edible schoolyard at the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum. Edible Schoolyard is a half-hectare practical organic school garden and kitchen. Since its opening in May 2010, The Edible Schoolyard has been a destination for children, families and teachers to learn to grow, cook and share fresh, delicious food. Vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers, trees and shrubs as well as chickens, worms and insects are found in the plant and animal ecosystem of the garden. A special thanks to the donors of The Edible Schoolyard for their generous contributions.

In 2015, MBCM launched the “Reaching Greater Heights” expansion project and capital campaign with the goal of opening several signature properties to strengthen MBCM’s mission. Phase 1 was completed in the summer of 2017, adding the Outdoor Playground; and Phase 2, an indoor interactive water exhibit, completed in Fall 2018. Phase 3 of construction was completed in 2020 when The Growing Place technology exhibit was added to the museum’s roster of fun STEAM-based activities. Travel through Neptune’s lobby and stop for a photo at the #BigRedChair before heading to the Outdoor Playground. Plaza: The Outdoor Play Plaza consists of two 30-foot Neptune XXL climbers imported from Europe connected by a 25-foot hanging net tunnel. The Outdoor Playground uses a child’s creative level of problem solving and teaches children how to get from point A to B without a set path, and the rope structures allow children visibility while playing. In their town, children go to work on High Street with a variety of realistic, hands-on exhibits that allow children to role play and make believe with their parents and guardians. The museum is designed to inspire learning through play in a fun, energetic and safe environment. Located in downtown Greensboro, the 37,000-square-foot space features permanent exhibits designed to ignite children’s imaginations and provide educational play experiences. Young chefs wear chef’s aprons and hats in the Pizza Pan, take orders, prepare pizzas and serve them to customers fresh from the oven. This exhibition was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the High Five Club. Buy nutritious food, push baby carriages and call customers with real cash registers. The market is full of different departments including produce, bakery, seafood and meat. This exhibit was made possible by a generous donation from The Fresh Market.

All the world’s a stage, and their City Theater is just the right size for professionals of all ages. Dress up on stage, play with the light and sound booth and make a puppet. The MBCM health center has a newborn nursery, a Pediatric Pals doctor’s office and a dental clinic. Newborn dolls are ready to be bathed, weighed, fed and rocked. Pretend you’re a doctor or nurse using peelers and stethoscopes to treat cuts, scrapes and broken bones. Become a dentist who checks patients for cavities and teaches them how healthy eating, brushing and flossing can keep their teeth strong! This exhibit is made possible by the generosity of Dr. John and Martha Chandler and Cone Health. Learn how to frame, wire, insulate and finish homes in this semi-built house. Build a house or tower from large blocks in the basement. Imaginations run wild as children cook, clean and play in this 1930s Fisher Park replica. Collect eggs from chickens in the coop, hang laundry on a line, set the table, create a flower display, sweep, wash the dishes and have an afternoon picnic without modern electronics.

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