Imagine U Interactive Children’s Museum opens in Visalia

Imagine U Interactive Children’s Museum opened its colorful new building last week to rave reviews by parents and children.

“Everything is so hands on – every detail,” said Rachael Hanhart of Visalia as her sons Jameson, 3, and Henry, 15 months, immersed themselves in age-appropriate exhibits.

Hanhart monitored Henry in the toddler area, while Jameson stayed active in the neighboring Grove Pick and Pack area by harvesting plastic oranges, lemons and limes and sending the fruit through a citrus packing house.

The museum said it’s the only of its kind in the central San Joaquin Valley, and the new building undoubtedly makes it the most elaborate.

It meets the needs of families like hers, Hanhart said: “When it’s 110 degrees outside and it’s raining in the winter, what are you going to do with your kids?”

The 15,000-square-foot building was paid for by a $5.4 million Proposition 84 grant. Russ Taylor and the Taylor Group in Fresno were the architects, and details include an outdoor column that looks like a giant crayon.

Exhibits are aimed at children ages 1 through 13 or 14.

They promote motor skills, teamwork, abstract thinking, creativity and knowledge about how things work so young minds can tackle bigger problems as teens and young adults, said museum director Peter Sodhy.

“My mantra is we are trying to change the community 10 years from now,” he said. “You’ve got to plant the seed today.”

Younger children tend to come in the mornings, and older children start arriving about 2:30 p.m.

“It’s incredible,” said parent Brittany Pockress of Visalia. “It’s so nice to have this here.”

Virtually all of the exhibits are professionally designed, many by Haizlip Studio based in Tennessee.

One of the most popular is the paint station – a glass wall that children can paint on as parents watch from the other side.

“It encourages them to think in reverse,” Sodhy said.

The paint can be washed off relatively quickly so the next group of children can can use it.

The treehouse is also popular.

Audrey Condie, 4, of Lemoore climbed the exhibit and exited via the tunnel slide.

“There’s binoculars up there,” Audrey said.

Children can look through the binoculars to see animals distributed on the tree branches, Sodhy said.

Still being installed are several interactive touch screens that will allow parents to select questions to help children learn more about the exhibits.

The U-Fix-It Garage has a mock up car that children can change tires on, test under the hood, use tools and change the oil.

“This is the one that’s a hit when the dads come here by themselves with the kids,” Sodhy said.

The toddler area has a reading area, instructional area, chairs for adults, lactation station and stroller parking.

At the crafts area a sign reads, “Creativity is messy, and we are very creative.”

Outside is the Harmony Playground consisting of a xylophone, a marimba, tubular bells and drums.

Imagine U was started 13 years ago by Angela Huerta of Visalia, now retired, who made it her life’s mission to open a children’s museum.

“I’m ecstatic,” she said about the new building. “I have to pinch myself. It doesn’t seem real.”

The community rallied behind the idea when she talked about opening a children’s museum, she said: “It was countless people who made it happen.”

Auto dealer Jack Petty agreed to let the fledgeling nonprofit occupy an old auto showroom on East Main Street, where it was located until the move.

Visalia Council Member Mary Louise Vivier stopped by to express support in the early going.

“She came in and threw down a twenty dollar bill and said, ‘I know you’re going to be able to do this,’ ” Huerta said.

The museum gets 90 percent of its operating revenues from general admission, field trips, events and birthday parties.

The new building has two event rooms that can be rented for birthday parties. Additionally, an after-school enrichment program for grades one through six has a STEAM focus: science, technology, math, art and math.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Imagine U Interactive Children’s Museum opens in Visalia."