Media Room Strategic Initiative Exhibition Development

Museum Receives $124,000 for Exploration Portal

Local News Matters
July 28, 2023

The museum received $124,000 from Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to develop Exploration Portal, an environmental education space adjacent to Bill's Backyard, which opened in 2017 to enhance children's learning about the natural world. Exploration Portal is slated to open in the summer of 2024. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Science Learning

Voyage to Vietnam: Celebrating the Tet Festival Opens July 8

June 29, 2023

Experience the beauty, sights and sounds of Vietnam through the Tet Festival in this interactive cultural exhibition. Try on a giant lion dance mask, select traditional flower and faux food items, dress up in an Ao Dai, and hop a Vespa - these are a few of the many exhibit experiences that showcase the rich traditions, customs and values of Vietnamese culture. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence

New Educational Play Space is a Hit With Kids

Tiny Beans
November 4, 2021

Traveling with young children just got easier at Mineta San Jose International Airport. Zoom Zone, an educational play space designed by Children's Discovery Museum, is already a big hit. Sponsored by Zoom Video Communications, Inc., with the support of many community partners, Zoom Zone teaches little ones about flight while helping them get the wiggles out. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Zoom Zone Opens at Mineta San Jose International Airport

The Mercury News
October 27, 2021

Families traveling with children now have a safe and exciting place to get their pre-flight jitters out at Zoom Zone, the new educational play space designed by Children's Discovery Museum at Mineta San Jose International Airport. Sponsorship from Zoom Video Communications, Inc. and many partners, including Hensel Phelps, got this worthwhile project off the ground. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Executive Director Marilee Jennings On Diversity & Inclusion with SV Business Journal

Silicon Valley Business Journal
November 16, 2018

On any given day in the museum, you'll hear numerous languages being spoken. The museum's audience mirrors the tremendous diversity in the Bay Area. This is no accident. It's the result of years of intentional work that includes everything from the Cultural Celebration Series, tri-lingual signage, staffing decisions, and exhibits and programs to deeply held community partnerships. Learn More

Community Service Learning, Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Health Promotion, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Learning Research, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Voyage to Vietnam Returns Home After National Tour

October 1, 2018

After a two-year national tour to promote understanding of the Vietnamese culture, the exhibition Voyage to Vietnam: Celebrating the Tet Festival returns home. The exhibition was developed by the museum with the help of 10 community leaders who consulted on the two-year process to ensure cultural authenticity. It was made possible through a highly competitive national initiative by the Freeman Foundation Asian Culture Exhibit Series. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Learning Research, Partnerships & Resource Development

Nature NOW! Bill’s Backyard Opens Oct. 29

Red Tricycle
October 22, 2017

Go outside and play. This sentiment is often at odds with the valley's tech-heavy culture, especially in the Bay Area. To encourage kids to put down their devices and engage with the outdoors, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose recently doubled its exhibit space to add a new outdoor exhibit, Bill’s Backyard: Bridge to Nature, and it’s the tree house and dig pit of childhood dreams. Every detail was meticulously planned from the living roof on the junior ranger station to the life-sized bronze animals hidden throughout the exhibit. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Seventy-five Charming Third Graders Help Dedicate Bill’s Backyard

The Mercury News
October 20, 2017

The same kids who tossed seeds into a patch of dirt last November burst through a commemorative ribbon and helped dedicate the museum's new outdoor space, Bill's Backyard: Bridge to Nature, on Thursday. Mayor Sam Liccardo, Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, and representatives from the visionary donors including Open Space Authority Santa Clara County, the California Coastal Conservancy, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, and Agilent Technologies were among many who were on-hand to mark the occasion and speak about the importance of this new outdoor learning environment to children and the entire region. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Low Tech High Thrills at the Purple Museum

South Bay Accent
October 15, 2017

Executive Director Marilee Jennings talks with South Bay Accent about everything from the early days of the museum to the latest and largest capital project since opening in 1990 - Bill's Backyard. San Jose's newest outdoor learning environment is primed for hours of exploration, discovery, and creativity for all ages, especially inquisitive youngsters. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Executive Director Marilee Jennings Talks with Bay Area Focus

KBCW Bay Area Focus
October 8, 2017

Marilee Jennings joined Michelle Griego, host of KBCW's "Bay Area Focus," to talk about Bill's Backyard and why the museum is venturing outdoors with a half-acre outdoor learning environment focused on environmental and science learning - and, of course, lots of discovery and exploration for children and families. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Science Learning