Christmas Comes Early to the Children of the Wabash Valley
-December 19, 2006

Christmas Comes Early to the Children of the Wabash Valley Tuesday, December 19, President of the Board of Directors of the Terre Haute Children's Museum. John Thompson, announced the new building plan for the Museum. Mr. Thompson told a crowd gathered in the Tribune Building that the new building for the Terre Haute Children's Museum will be built on the corner of Eighth Street and Wabash Avenue. The existing structure will be demolished to make room for a new six-story building. The first three floors will provide a home for the new Terre Haute Children's Museum, while the upper three floors will become part of Candlewood Suites.

Mr. Thompson believes that this is a great opportunity for our community to come together. "It's not often that a public/private/non-profit partnership develops for a better community for our children, and the Terre Haute Children's Museum is very proud to be a part of this new development."

The downtown home for the new Children's Museum will be a $5 million investment that includes a $1 million match from the City of Terre Haute. Steve Schrohe, a member of the Museum's Board of Directors, said the Museum will pay Dora Brothers $400,000 for the property,as well as for rights to parking, architectural fees, construction costs of interior stair towers,utility connections and maintenance of common areas, the total value of which is $800,000. The Museum will own the property and will give Candlewood Suites a vertical easement for the upper floors. Construction of the interior portion of the Museum will be let out for bids.

Schrohe said land on North Third Street that had been donated by Union Hospital for the building of the new Terre Haute Children's Museum will be returned to the hospital, and that hospital officials are fully supportive of the new downtown location.

Three years ago when the idea for a new museum was taking shape, a downtown location was not an option," Schrohe explained. "The Eighth and Wabash building gives us a central location close to hotels and other museums. It also offers ample parking, including school bus parking, so the children can safely enter and exit the new museum."

Steve Witt, president of the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation, said,"We're excited about this plan because it compliments the other projects that are already under way downtown-the new Hilton Garden Inn, the new transportation facility and parking garage, the revamping of the 7th Street Arts Corridor as well as the existing features that attract people to the downtown area such as Indiana State University, Hulman Civic Center, the Swope Museum, the Clabber Girl Museum. Now with an extended stay hotel, and a new and improved children's museum, downtown Terre Haute is becoming a true destination point that will help us in our economic development attraction efforts."

Mayor Kevin Burke said the city's portion of the new Children's Museum project will come from the city's Economic Development Income Tax revenue. The State of Indiana announced last month that it had underpaid the city more than $2 million after collecting the tax since 2004. The city's commitment of $1 million will be paid on a matching basis as the new museum raises money through grants and donations.

Work will begin in the spring and the new Terre Haute Children's Museum is scheduled to open in August 2008.

Artist rendering of new Terre Haute Children's Museum to be located at 8th and Wabash Avenue.

Click here to download a larger view of the museum. (pdf format)

Click here to download a larger view of the exhibit. (pdf format)

(left) Tim Dora of Fishers, Indiana-based Dora Brothers Hospitality Corp. makes the announcement.

(center) John Thompson speaks to the crowd on behalf of the Terre Haute Children's Museum.

(right) Steve Witt, president of the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation, adds, "We're excited about this plan."