Who We Are

Our History:

In 1990, the Junior League of Evansville formed Hands On Discovery as its signature project, opening in 1994 in the Eastland Mall. The organization became incorporated and received its not-for-profit status in 1995. The museum moved to Washington Square Mall in 1996. For over fourteen years Hands On Discovery provided a hand-made, home-made learning laboratory for children from throughout Evansville and the tri-state region. With decreasing resources for both in-school and field trip activities, teachers from dozens of school districts came to rely on our children’s museum as an important extension of the classroom.

During the final three years in operation at Washington Square Mall, the need for a larger and professionally-developed children’s museum became overwhelmingly clear. Operating in a small, donated storefront, the first Hands On Discovery Children’s Museum served over 200,000 children, one class at a time. The Children’s Museum became such an important community resource that in 2004 alone over 150 school groups, representing 3,000 students, had to be turned away due to the lack of space.

Following extensive community input and a fund development feasibility study, and in an extraordinary act of city, business and community partnership, the City of Evansville’s Redevelopment Commission gifted the Children’s Museum with a historic downtown building - the former Central Library - and a corporate challenge grant to launch its fundraising campaign to relocate and expand the Children’s Museum.

The museum closed for almost two years to focus its attention on a capital campaign, new exhibit design and major renovations. During this time, community forums were held in Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky to discuss and dream about exhibits for the new space. These forums led to final exhibit concepts, which were then created by Roto Studio of Ohio specifically for the Children’s Museum. The organization was renamed as the Louis J. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe) in July 2006 and opened in its new location on September 29, 2006.

cMoe seeks to provide a safe and educational learning facility for children and families in the Evansville area. Please view photos and information about our exhibits under the exhibits link to your left.