An Omaha staple recently celebrated a major anniversary.
Last week, the Omaha Children’s Museum marked 50 years of service. More than 2,000 visitors turned out for the birthday-themed celebration, according to interim CEO Erin Foley, who called the event a “joyful occasion.”
“It’s so meaningful to see the responses from our guests,” Foley said, “both the children and the caregivers and the parents, and just the joy on the children’s faces.”
The Omaha Children’s Museum got its start out of the back of a station wagon in 1976. The organization traveled around the metro, bringing educational activities to thousands of children. In 1989, the museum moved into its longtime home, a former Ford dealership building at 500 S. 20th St.
A new riverfront facility announced in 2024 would have marked the first move for the museum in nearly 40 years, but plans were put on hold in late 2025 amid a fundraising shortfall.
Asked about the proposed project, Foley said fundraising remains paused.
“It is a true pause, and we’re using this time to focus on operations,” Foley said. “We have two large temporary exhibits and four small temporary exhibits annually. We are getting some painting done on the exterior and some light capital improvements in this space.”
The $100 million development would have included an updated building, new exhibits and a cafe to the heart of the city’s newly developed downtown parks.
The new museum was to be the centerpiece in a partnership between the City of Omaha, Children’s Museum and NuStyle Development to redevelop a parcel of city-owned property at Eighth and Douglas streets.
In the meantime, Foley encouraged visitors to check out the museum’s temporary exhibits: Super Sports Squared, which brings together athletics and math; and Ciao Bambini, an immersive cultural exhibit focused on Italy.
“We are a spot for generations,” Foley said. “It’s amazing to see how many parents came here as kids. It’s really great to see the generational impact that we have on the Omaha community.”