I can’t think of a more pleasant way to spend a day with my kids, than visiting the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. My children are both in grade school and the museum is a wonderful venue filled with hands-on exhibits that invite children to explore the wonders of physics, history and nature and learn about the world through play.
The Hudson River
On entering the Museum, we were greeted by “Rivertown,” an exhibit designed to represent the cultural diversity in the Hudson Valley area. My kids immediately raced over and began exploring this world and its different cultures.
Many of the exhibits we saw share the Hudson River as their theme. My kids loved the child-sized version of Henry Hudson’s Half Moon, the first European ship to navigate the Hudson. We all took an imaginary voyage to the depths of the Hudson River in the “Hudson River Dive Bell” exhibit. Of course my son, Daniel, ran right to the real wooden ship’s wheel and began “piloting” the dive bell while his sister Emma, navigated using the working periscope. For my young environmentalists, the “Hudson River Tides Water Play Table” was a hit! This exhibit is water play with a purpose, as they learned about the dynamic forces of the Hudson River. This exhibit helped them understand how rivers begin in the highlands and gather in power and depth as they flow to lower elevations. With the mere turn of a dial, they were able to see how the ocean’s tides can cause a river to flow in the opposite direction.
Eclectic Playground
The main galleries are an eclectic playground of learning and fun, with the emphasis on fun! IBM has sponsored several displays exploring the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. Emma and Daniel were able to operate a hand driven pile driver and a belt powered drill as they experienced engineering principles. My kids are avid video gamers, and the “Green Screen” exhibit amazed them as their images were captured and inserted into several action-packed video games. They also learned about good nutrition as they “climbed” the “Horizontal Climbing Wall.”
Massive Mastodon
One of the Museum’s latest acquisitions is the Hyde Park Mastodon. The casting of the mastodon was made from a complete skeleton found during a backyard excavation by a Hyde Park resident in 1999. The story created a local sensation and was featured on the Discovery Channel. We were all amazed as the skeleton of the gigantic creature towered above us as we climbed the stairs to the second floor. The mastodon was surrounded by a wall mural depicting the Hudson Valley as it would have looked 15,000 years ago as well as a jungle gym and slide, which allowed my kids to get up close and personal to the prehistoric giant.
Perennial Favorites
The Museum has several standing exhibits that we always visit every time we’re there. We all took a turn cranking the comic contraption known as the Gravity Roll, which sends a ball spiraling toward the ceiling. And we never miss a chance to create enormous soap bubbles with the Great Bubble Machine.
Other exhibits at the museum include an interactive toy train that every Thomas fan will love and a telegraph station like the one used by the famous local resident Samuel F.B. Morse, inventor of Morse code. My kids loved playing sound engineer in the “Radio Disney Control Booth” exhibit.
Location, Location
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is situated on the scenic banks of the Hudson River in historic Poughkeepsie. The view alone is worth the ride. If the weather is nice pack a picnic. There are spots to sit and eat along the river, which is a nice way to rest after all the hands-on activity. The MTA offers a round trip day package that includes discounted admission to the museum, a free shuttle bus from the train station and a 25 percent discount at the nearby River Station Restaurant.
Bob Berry is a freelancer writer and illustrator. www.bobberryillustration.com.
When You Go …
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. 75 N. Water St., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 845-471-0589. www.mhcm.org
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $7.50 for adults and children.
The Museum also offers special events and activities throughout the year and on holidays, as well as a summer camp.
