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Above, a scene from Franklin Children's Museum pop up at the Franklin Elks.
Is Franklin ready for a children’s museum? Yes, is the emphatic answer from two area moms Erin Gallagher and Meg Hagen. Several months ago, they embarked on an ambitious path to raise funds for a “real” brick and mortar museum Children’s Museum of Franklin while formally establishing a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit. Simultaneously they began to offer ‘pop up’ museum experiences to area families at several different locations.
On both tracks, they are making bold strides. The latest of several pop-up events is now slated for Saturday March 16 from 10 to 1 at the Annie Sullivan Middle School with a `dinosaur bonanza.’ Although some initial events were free, tickets are now required for all, including adults and children above 12 months and can be purchased here.
The museum’s first big fundraiser is set for the Thursday April, 11. The $100 per ticket, Night at the Museum fundraiser
is being held at the Black Box.
And they have also secured seed funding from family, friends, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council by way of the Franklin Cultural District
The rise of museums for children
To put the Franklin effort in context, the Brooklyn Children's Museum was established in 1899 by the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences and is often regarded as the first children's museum in the United States. Boston’s venerable Children’s museum, launched in 1913 is only a little younger and now serves hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
In addition to the Boston Children’s Museum, there are two more children’s museum in the region roughly equidistant from Franklin along the arc of I-495.
To the south, is the Children's Museum in Easton, founded in 1991. The Museum is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Each year, according to the museum web site, some 50,000 children and caregivers enter the facility. An additional 8,000 early learners benefit from mobile science on the go programs delivered in partnership with schools, churches, PTOs, homeless shelters and other community organizations.
To the north, in Acton, the slightly older Discovery Museum served nearly 253,000 people on site and in school classrooms throughout New England in 2023, the largest number in its 41-year history. More than 53,000 of those served were PreK – 8th grade students in 116 towns that received the Museum’s classroom-based Traveling Science Workshops enrichment program
Making it Real
Hagen and Gallagher say their focus is to find a permanent location within walking distance of downtown Franklin. And that goal, they say, is seemingly within reach, though they are keeping candidate locations under wraps for now.
In that new home, they plan to prioritize:
- Exhibits designed for infant–10 years
- Programming for elementary & middle school aged children
- Leadership & internship opportunities for high school & college students
- Creating a place to build community for adult caregivers & youth
In addition to each other, Hagen and Gallagher have recruited a board consisting of Emily Martins, Esq., Vice President, Matt Jones, CPA, Treasurer, Pat Gallagher, Esq., Clerk as well as Michele Kane and Hayley Doucette.
Then there is the ‘committee of advisers,’ notably including Neil Gordon, the former CEO, of the Action Discovery Museum.
As far as the budget for the Children’s Museum of Franklin, again Hagen and Gallagher are staying mum, but museums aren’t cheap.
According to the 2022 Form 990 filing of the Boston Children’s Museum, its program expenditures for that year were nearly $6.5 million dollars. Acton’s Discovery Museum saw its revenue grow sharply last year to $3.8 million.
Hagen and Gallagher seem undaunted by the challenges. And, indeed, are talking about being up and running within the year. And if the public response continues strong – some of their initial events drew in hundreds of children and care givers – then the future will be bright.
