The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has officially announced a timeline for its long awaited move to a brand-new location, a historic church on Central Park West and 96th Street.
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The museum posted the announcement Tuesday on Facebook, saying “We’re thrilled to announce our plans for a new home at 96th Street and Central Park West, set to open in 2028! This isn’t just a new building; it’s a future hub of learning and joy for all New York City families.”
The museum will move into the historic 80,000 square foot First Church of Christ, Scientist, a landmarked seven-story building constructed in 1903. CMOM purchased the church in 2017 for $45 million. However, it was unable to renovate the gutted interior until it raised the capital to do so as part of a $300 million fundraising campaign to finance the new location. The project was finally able to move forward thanks to a $50 million donation by Founding Board Chair Laurie Tisch. Other donors included Jackie and Mike Bezos who gave $30 million and the city itself, which allocated $46.1 million to the project.
Rendering c/o Darcstudio
Rendering c/o Darcstudio
The plan to use the church initially raised controversy when presented before Community Board 7 in 2019 due to, among other things, a plan to remove the church’s iconic stained glass windows. These critiques resulted in a series of changes and updates including a plan to restore and keep one of the stained glass windows for educational purposes and donate the others to the National Building Arts Center. After further revisions, the plans were ultimately approved.
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CMOM has been a staple of the UWS for decades. First opened in 1973, it plays host to over 350,000 visitors a year, along with a myriad of exhibits and activities designed to entertain and educate kids the world over. The museum is currently featuring six exhibits: Adventures With Dora and Diego; Inside Art: Create, Climb, Collaborate; Dynamic H2O; Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City; PlayWorks; and Right to Vote.
The increased space will allow the Museum to double its capacity and increase the maximum age range it serves from 8 years to 10. According to renderings, the new museum will feature four interconnected floors of exhibits, along with a rooftop deck.
Rendering c/o Darcstudio
Though the new facility won’t open for a few years, fans of CMOM need not worry: until construction is complete the museum will remain open at its current home at 212 West 83rd Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue).
