Wendy Keller Executive Director

It was an on-going concern when area residents and visitors would state that there was nothing to do in the winter for children. Tired of being cooped up and inactive, parents and business leaders decided to make a change.

In 2013, the Minot Area Community Foundation (MACF) launched a two-year community listening program, where staff and board visited with nearly 200 community members and 19 area businesses. The purpose of the community listening sessions was to gather what Minot area residents believed to be the most pressing, emerging community needs. It was throughout this process that the MACF heard over and over again: There is nothing to do in the winter for our children, and stay-at-home moms/dads are going crazy having kids cooped up inside for months.

Many different ideas were offered about how to create indoor activities for children and families, but none of the ideas gained the type of momentum surrounding the concept of starting a children’s museum for the Minot area. Give360, a giving circle under the Minot Are Community Foundation, took a lead role in the children’s museum initiative. They made an agreement with the Dakota Territory Air Museum to share their space during the winter months (when they are typically closed) and developed a plan to open a small children’s museum – Phase I. This small passionate team of volunteers successfully organized and managed this phase of the Magic City Discovery Center – Museum Without Walls for 4 years from Fall of 2014 to Spring of 2018. We have had approximately 20,000 visitors in the 4 partial years and expect 45,000 visitors once we are open year-round. In addition to the Discovery Center, we have offered many fabulous STEAM events, 3 Color Dash events, Noon Year’s Eve celebrations and Touch a Truck to give our community a taste of the fun and education we will offer year-round. We have successfully educated our community about what a children's museum is and how wonderful it would be for North Dakota.

In 2014, the Children’s Museum of Minot, Inc. (doing business as Magic City Discovery Center) was created and obtained its 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization status. The dedicated board of directors has worked with several consultants to refine the need, analyze feasibility and develop a plan for the permanent facility. In July 2017, we were awarded $1,000,000 from the City of Minot Community Facilities Funds and plan to build on a spectacular North Hill site owned by Minot Parks. We hired our first full time employee in October 2017 and are proceeding with our full dream. We believe our children deserve a Magic City Discovery Center not only in the winter but all year long.

A MESSAGE FROM THE MCDC BOARD PRESIDENT

Karen Rasmusson Board President

I am honored and excited to be asked to serve as President for Magic City Discovery Center and want to thank Mark Lyman for extending his term as President to work toward our goal of building the permanent Magic City Discovery Center (MCDC).

Times change and our board recognizes the need to adapt so we can accomplish our goal to bring MCDC to our community and especially our children as soon as we can. During these turbulent times, we feel MCDC will be the shining light for all of us. To this end we have been exploring additional possibilities to house all our wonderful exhibits.

We are excited to report that exhibit design is 90% complete which pushes us closer to opening a museum that will draw visitors from all over the region. In addition, we now have our Discovery on the Go! trailer to bring STEAM activities to schools, events and children throughout our region. Look for the trailer with smiling faces on it and contact us to schedule an event for your school or town!

Most importantly, I want to thank our donors and community. Through this support we have raised $5.6 million! This has taken us a long way toward our goal but we are not quite there. This is your chance to make a difference and get involved. Please help us make this a reality for our children and consider donating to MCDC where children and families can engage in the magic of lifelong learning.

Karen Rasmusson

Mark Lyman Former Board President

"I have loved my time serving as the President of the Magic City Discovery Center Board of Directors. It is amazing to see the level of love and support that our children have been shown through the more than $5 million in donations raised for the new Discovery Center since I was asked to serve as president. I couldn't be more proud of the foundations, individuals, and corporations that have stepped up to provide a foundation for our efforts. I know that the management of the board going forward will be in good hands with Karen Rasmusson as the incoming President. As I continue to serve on the board, I will remain dedicated to the cause that is before us - to engage children and families in the magic of lifelong learning through discovery, creativity, and play."

CO-CHAIRS' MESSAGE

{Kathy Aas & Randy Burckhard}

As campaign co-chairs of the Magic City Discovery Center Capital Campaign Committee, we are honored to lead this worthy cause. The Discovery Center will offer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning with more than 7,000 square feet of high-quality, unique educational exhibits that reflect our region. It is exciting to be part of such a wonderful project in our community, especially something that will greatly benefit children and families in this region for many years to come. The Magic City Discovery Center is the best large-scale endeavor for children in decades. Please join us and all the other members of the Capital Campaign Committee in supporting this new magnificent year-round facility on North Hill.

Co-Chairs for the Magic City Discovery Center Capital Campaign Committee

As Honorary Co-Chairs of the Magic City Discovery Center Capital Campaign Committee, we are proud of the exciting direction of this new initiative and exclusive opportunity for Minot to be home of the state’s first discovery center/children’s museum. For communities like Minot to continue to thrive, they have to be a welcoming place for all families. Our community and region will benefit greatly from this family-friendly center that offers a nurturing, thought promoting and most importantly, fun outlet for our children. It is just the kind of development Minot and the region’s families have been waiting for. The Magic City Discovery Center will improve our quality of life, add unique educational opportunities, and be a forward-thinking facility. It is truly a community-focused enhancement that we should all put our financial support toward. We are behind this initiative 100% and we are asking you to be as well!