Central Oregon’s first children’s museum to open in Bend

Children’s Museum of Central Oregon, a nonprofit that pops up across the region on wheels, announced it secured a brick-and-mortar location in Bend’s Central District — and a new name.

Construction will begin in early 2027 to transform a nearly 8,000-square-foot building, and the museum will open “as soon as possible,” according to Museum Director Erica Segal. The group launched its $3 million fundraising campaign last month and has raised $450,000 so far.

Museum organizers asked The Bulletin not to publish the building address until Jan. 1, when the lease with Taylor Development begins, at the developer’s request.

The museum — free of any ‘Please don’t touch’ signs — will provide a year-round, permanent destination for youth to learn science-based concepts through hands-on activities. It is designed to house three major, permanent exhibits, a rotating exhibit, a classroom for programs and outdoor exhibits.

Central Oregon is the only region in the state without a dedicated children’s or science museum, according to the nonprofit.

“This is filling a regional gap,” said John Winters, chair of the museum’s board of directors.

From talking to thousands of families who visit the mobile museum, Segal said the questions she gets asked most are: “Where are you located?” and “How soon can you get open?”

Segal continued, “We know that families and caretakers are looking for places that are intentionally made for their kids. We also know that science education could use a lot of support.”

About one in four students in Central Oregon are proficient in science while one in three are proficient in math, according to the nonprofit’s analysis of Oregon Department of Education data.

Central Oregon needs a place where children can consistently explore concepts in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) because that early learning often happens outside of the classroom, Segal said.

While Bend’s Old Mill District housed Working Wonders Children’s Museum from 2004 to 2009, it closed due to the economic recession . The lack of consistent access to a children’s or science museum means families travel outside Bend, according to Winters.

“(Parents) used to travel to have this experience with their kids, now it’ll be right here in our own community, and it’s going to make a huge difference. It already has,” Winters said. “It’s a huge change.”

The museum would also support Bend’s plans to transform the east of downtown into an urban core , Segal said.

“The museum would be a great addition to the Bend Central District,” Katy Brooks, Bend’s economic development officer, said in an email. “It would invite energy and families to that area of town as it develops into a more activated place for the community.”

Brooks continued, “Having a permanent home for the museum with programming, activities and exhibits will be welcomed by Central Oregon families looking for activities geared toward young children. With Bend’s growing life and health sciences industries, it also lends to sparking curiosity and interest in a future workforce that is growing in Bend.”

A decades-long vision

The nonprofit’s announcement marks the latest step in a plan years in the making.

The group started pop-up events in 2015 and talked about creating a permanent space. The COVID-19 pandemic upended that goal until the idea of opening a physical space became a priority post-pandemic.

In 2024, the nonprofit secured a location for a $25 million museum in a 25,000-square-foot building east of Cascade Village Shopping Center and planned to open it between 2028 to 2030.

“We needed to fine-tune the size,” Winters said.

The demand for its mobile museum, which also launched in 2024 and quickly gained traction, led organizers to change plans to opening a brick-and-mortar sooner.

“We recognized that we needed to get open as quickly as possible,” Segal said. “We had to turn a bunch of opportunities and events down, just because of our limited capacity.”

The mobile museum has served over 24,000 people and traveled over 3,000 miles to libraries, schools and community events across Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, according to the nonprofit.

Rebranding to Ruckus

Out of concern the museum would lose some visitors otherwise, Segal said, the nonprofit is also rebranding with a new name — Ruckus: A Children’s Science Museum.

“Children’s Museum kind of carries its own image of a 0 to 5 imaginative play space, and we’re looking to serve 0 to 11-year-olds,” Segal said. “And then I always like to say, with no actual age limit on play, we want all children and adults to come and visit us.”

The new name also represents the sound of children creating, exploring, learning and experimenting, Segal said. It is also a nod to Central Oregon.

“This really captures not only the energy and the excitement that we plan to take place in our building, but it captures our region,” Segal continued. “We’ve got volcanoes and rushing rivers, and so it floated to the top as something that captures the joy of what we plan to bring for children and families.”

Ruckus is working with former Walt Disney creatives and regional partners to design exhibits inspired by Central Oregon, from its agriculture and aviation to its rivers and forests. The group also plans to collaborate with the local colleges, school districts and other organizations on exhibits, Winters said.

He continued, “We’re going to involve as much of the community as we can.”

The mobile museum is running its first long-term pop-up at Discovery Corner in Discovery West in Bend until the end of October. It will continue to reach rural communities, traveling across the region after the new building opens.