ROME– The Children’s Museum of Rome has opened at Mount Berry Mall after years of planning, fundraising, and community support.

Museum organizers held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Sept. 17. The museum’s public grand-opening event will run Friday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The new attraction occupies Suite 908 at Mount Berry Mall, located at 2770 Martha Berry Highway. It gives Northwest Georgia families a new place for hands-on learning, imaginative play, and community-centered exhibits.

According to the official Georgia’s Rome grand-opening listing, families may purchase tickets online. However, only a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available.

Everyone in a visiting party needs a ticket. In addition, the museum requires completed waivers for both adults and children.

Learning Through Play

The Children’s Museum of Rome centers its work on learning through exploration. Its mission calls for an interactive environment where families can explore, learn, and grow together.

Organizers also designed the museum to encourage curiosity, creativity, and a lasting interest in learning. Therefore, its exhibits connect play with educational experiences instead of relying on traditional displays.

The museum describes its attractions as community-based exhibits with hands-on learning. Those spaces include STEAM activities, career exploration, community themes, art, and literacy experiences.

STEAM education combines science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Through that approach, children can solve problems, experiment, create, and learn through active play.

The museum primarily serves children ages 2 through 12. However, its activities also create opportunities for adults to participate alongside their children.

Mount Berry Mall says the attraction includes dedicated classroom space for school field trips. In addition, the facility offers areas for birthday parties, group visits, and special events.

A Community Project Reaches Opening Day

The museum’s official LinkedIn page lists 2023 as its founding year. Since then, local businesses, families, schools, and community partners have helped move the project toward opening day.

An April update from the City of Rome identified Jenna Bosarge as the museum’s president and founder. Executive board member Megan Treglown joined Bosarge in presenting the project to the Rome Tourism Board.

During that presentation, the organizers reported strong sponsorship support from area businesses and community partners. Meanwhile, the museum continued developing exhibits and completing other details needed for the attraction.

City officials described the project as an investment in Rome’s future. They also said it would expand the community’s selection of family-friendly destinations for residents and visitors.

The Children’s Museum of Rome operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Its federal employer identification number is 93-1684502.

As of Friday morning, the museum’s official fundraising page showed approximately $309,000 raised from 677 supporters. The campaign also listed 13 fundraisers and 13 members.

Exhibits Rooted in Rome and Floyd County

The museum’s development plan called for exhibits that reflect businesses and industries across Rome and Floyd County. As a result, children can explore concepts tied to places, services, and careers they may recognize.

That local approach gives the museum a different role from a standard indoor playground. Children can enjoy active play while learning how their community works.

In addition, the museum plans to use temporary exhibits and special programming to provide new experiences. Its website promotes seasonal activities, family game nights, youth business events, holiday programs, and the annual Touch-A-Truck fundraiser.

The museum also offers gift cards and memberships. Moreover, families may reserve party space that includes time to explore the museum.

All visitors must wear socks inside the play area. This rule applies to children and adults because the policy supports cleanliness and safety.

Families who forget socks can purchase grippy play socks at the front desk. Therefore, a missing pair of socks will not prevent a planned visit.

Field Trips and Educational Partnerships

The museum reserves Tuesdays for field trips by schools, daycares, and homeschool groups. Those visits use hands-on activities to encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and early learning.

Educators may contact the museum at programs@childrensmuseumromega.org to discuss a group visit. Meanwhile, the dedicated classroom spaces allow staff members to support structured activities outside the main exhibit areas.

The museum has also created work-based learning opportunities for area college students. Official Berry College employment listings advertised positions through the college’s Community and Industry program.

Those student employees help with admissions, interactive activities, field trips, birthday parties, and museum operations. In addition, they gain experience in education, hospitality, child development, safety, and community engagement.

Another Berry listing described a Museum Experience Ambassador position. That role focuses on guest service, learning through play, educational conversations, and STEAM activities.

Consequently, the partnership extends the museum’s educational mission beyond its youngest visitors. It also gives college students practical experience while they support local families.

Admission, Hours, and Visitor Information

Daily admission costs $12.50 for each visitor age 2 or older. Tickets remain subject to availability, and families can reserve admission through the museum’s website.

The museum publishes the following regular schedule:

• Sunday: noon to 4 p.m.
• Monday: closed
• Tuesday: field trips only
• Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Because operating schedules can change for programs or special events, families should confirm details before traveling. Tickets, memberships, waivers, field-trip information, and party reservations are available at childrensmuseumromega.org.

Visitors may also call 706-509-2667 or email info@childrensmuseumromega.org. The museum is located at 2770 Martha Berry Highway, Suite 908, in Rome.

A New Family Destination for Northwest Georgia

The opening brings a long-planned educational attraction into regular operation. More importantly, it creates a year-round space where families can learn and spend time together.

The museum also adds another group destination for schools, daycares, and homeschool organizations. Furthermore, its party and event spaces broaden the ways families and community organizations can use the facility.

For museum organizers, the grand opening marks the result of several years of fundraising and partnership building. For supporters, it represents a community idea transformed into a working resource for children.

Now, families can experience the exhibits that sponsors, donors, volunteers, and organizers helped create. The Children’s Museum of Rome begins that next chapter with its public grand-opening event Friday and regular operations afterward.

NORTH WEST GEORGIA NEWS