The Hamilton Children’s Museum is back in play

After a six-year closure and $6.7 million in upgrades, the Gage Park discovery centre has now reopened its doors. 

After close to six years of closure, the Hamilton Children’s Museum is now reopened.

An addition to the 150-year-old building has more than doubled the space to accommodate young families, school groups and birthday parties, says museum curator Karen McCartney.

Renovations began in February 2023, but he entire project was 15 years in the making, says Lisa Abbott, the City’s director of tourism and culture, at an official opening on Jan. 10. The Gage Park master plan called for overhauling the museum in 2010.

“This is an exciting day,” said Abbott.

Mayor Andrea Horwath marvelled at the renovation.

“It’s spectacular. You can’t help but light up walking into a space like this,” she said. “As you move through the space, you can really feel Hamilton. You can’t do better than what has been accomplished here.”

Hamilton Centre MPP Robin Lennox said, “This space will help ensure (children) will see this as a city built for them.”

More than $6.7 million was invested in the upgrades, funding by the municipal, provincial and federal governments.  

The new visitor centre was built on the northwest side of Gage House, an original farmhouse that dates to 1875. It was once surrounded by an orchard that is now Gage Park. The house has functioned as the city’s children’s museum since 1979.

The addition features plenty of natural light and interactive play spaces that include a greenhouse, a sailboat, and a treehouse. The walls are covered in prints featuring a waterfall, Canada Geese at the harbour and a downtown streetscape.

Appointment blocks on Saturday went within just a couple of hours of being available.

For more than four decades, Hamilton Children’s Museum has been a place of learning, discovery and plan. Home to interactive, hands-on galleries, the museum encourages learning through self-directed play and family-friendly learning opportunities.

It closed in 2020 during the pandemic and remained closed for two years of renovations, that have added:

• A visitor space expanded from approximately 2,500 square feet. to 6,300 square feet, with the addition of outdoor terraces and a secure, family-friendly play yard.
• Extended operating hours, with the museum now open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the year.
• Improved accessibility, including a fully accessible entrance, elevator and upgraded washrooms.
• New exhibit areas featuring fresh, hands-on experiences, seeker spaces and thoughtfully designed spaces that support learning through play.
• New classroom space and expanded programming opportunities to better support school groups, camps and community partners.

The museum is now open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is an admission fee but residents with a Hamilton Public Library card can access the museum for free.