Our Story
In the summer of 2014, inspired by visits to various children's museums across the country with her grandchildren, Cindy was struck by the absence of such a resource in Nashville. As an educator, this lack of a children's museum for the youth of Metro Nashville sparked the creation of the Children's Museum Development Group. The group promptly organized and secured 501(c)(3) status to establish a nonprofit dedicated to creating a children's museum in Nashville.
The steering committee for the children's museum initiative in Nashville included a diverse group of parents, educators, and community leaders to evaluate whether Nashville could support a children's museum and determine the best location. The committee hired Boston-based ConsultEcon, Inc. and Memphis-based Haizlip Studio, a leading architectural firm specializing in children's museums, to conduct market research. Their findings confirmed that Nashville's demographic profile could support a large children's museum, with the ideal location identified as Davidson County, south of the central business district.
The vision was shared and promoted among Metro Council members, the business community, the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and educators and parents to garner widespread support.
In 2021, The Children's Museum Development Group changed its name to Music City Children's Museum.
Today, the Music City Children's Museum (MCCM) is led by prominent business leaders and community advocates who are deeply committed to the museum's mission. These leaders believe in the transformative power of early childhood education and the importance of creating a dynamic, inclusive environment where children can explore, learn, and grow. Their collective vision is to ensure that MCCM becomes a cornerstone of education and cultural enrichment in Nashville, fostering curiosity, connection, and community engagement for years to come.
Our Vision
We are creating a world-class children's museum in Nashville dedicated to providing a vibrant and interactive space where children, families, and caregivers can play, learn, and grow together.
The museum primarily engages children ages 1-10, exploring a wide array of themes including performing arts, media, healthcare, transportation, logistics, international culture, agriculture, public safety, business, the environment, and civic life.
Our Mission
To inspire a love of learning through the power of play by creating a child-centered environment that sparks creativity, curiosity, and imagination. We aim to expand educational opportunities for children in every neighborhood within Metro Nashville and across Middle Tennessee, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all.
Why a Children’s Museum?
Children’s museums are cultural institutions that help develop foundational skills. Children will discover the world around them through exploration, experience, curiosity, and creativity. Research shows that open-ended educational experiences are critical to a child’s development. Children’s museums offer child-centered learning that improves the trajectories of all children while preparing them to understand and manage their world.
MCCM will address community needs:
Provide parents with the support they need in their role as the first teachers of their children.
Serve a multi-cultural, multi-lingual population.
Provide learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction.
Reduce the effects of poverty on learning.