Re-opening of Exhibit at St. George Children's Museum
St. George, UT – St. George Children’s Museum will host a grand re-opening of the Stephen Wade Auto Center exhibit on Saturday, May 14th from 11 am – 1 pm. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11 am with members of the Board of Directors from the Museum and Board Members from the Wade Family Foundation. There will be activities throughout the Museum for families to participate in during the celebration including, a giant Jenga game, hula hoop activities, guest appearances, and refreshments while supplies last.
The renovation project began at the end of 2021 with both the museum staff and the Wade Family Foundation Board Members. The goal was to modernize the exhibit to reflect a more realistic dealership garage while adding interactive mechanical elements to the car. Staff Members of the Museum along with the Wade Family Board Members planned out the design and discussed color options, and from there the project came to life. New interactive items were discussed and added such as replacement tires, mufflers, an upgraded engine, and a new interactive diagnostic unit. In addition, new technician shirts have been ordered for the kids to wear so they feel like real technicians while they are playing in the exhibit. “After years of wear and tear, the Stephen Wade Auto Center exhibit needed to be refreshed and remodeled to sustain the durability needed for the children to continue to play and enjoy the exhibit,” says, Jamie Bahlmann, Director of the Wade Family Foundation.
Stephen Wade Auto Center partnered with Dealer Collision Center and Clear Bra to assist with the project of renovating and updating the display at the Museum. The Dealer Collision Center team donated hours to sand the car, perform repairs, prime and paint the car. Another partner included Clear Bra which sells and installs a protective product that seals the car and protects from normal wear and tear. Clear Bra’s team donated their time and material to wrap the entire car to protect the car for safe play at the museum.
St. George Children’s Museum opened its doors in 2014 and attracts over 100,000 visitors annually. The mission of the St. George Children’s Museum is to provide vibrant, engaging interactive activities that invite children and families to discover, imagine, and create. The mission of the Wade Family Foundation is to carry on the legacy of Stephen and Marcia Wade by providing funding and resources that contribute to the quality of life and the thriving spirit of our community.
