ESD Announces Opening of North Country Children’s Museum $3.8M Expansion in Potsdam

January 13, 2026

ESD Announces Opening of North Country Children’s Museum $3.8M Expansion in Potsdam

New second floor features six imaginative and interactive exhibits

View images here

Empire State Development today announced the opening of the North Country Children’s Museum second floor expansion as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. This $3.8 million project is a brand-new space in Potsdam and features six imaginative and interactive exhibits designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning for children ages 12 and under. From science and art to engineering and exploration, each exhibit invites young minds to play, discover, and dream big. The museum on Raymond Street originally opened in 2018. View images of the new exhibits here.

“Governor Hochul’s commitment to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative allows us to support projects that weave together the social and economic fabric of our communities,” said ESD President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “The North Country Children’s Museum expansion is more than just a place to play; it is an investment in the region’s future prosperity. These new STEAM-powered exhibits will playfully plant the seeds of curiosity and critical thinking skills needed to cultivate the innovation of tomorrow.”

“Opening the second floor is a milestone that reflects seven years of vision, collaboration, and persistence,” said North Country Children’s Museum Executive Director Sharon Vegh Williams. “What began as an ambitious idea has become a vibrant new space where children and families can learn, create, and connect. We are deeply grateful to our partners, supporters, and community who believed in this project from the beginning and helped bring it to life for the children of the North Country.”

The North Country Children’s Museum expansion project received numerous grants for its expansion, including $1.4 million from the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), $200,000 from New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s New York Main Street Program, $155,200 from Empire State Development’s Regional Council Capital Fund (RCCF), and $141,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The museum also recently received a $49,500 grant from NYSCA for more access to arts and cultural programs. ESD previously supported the establishment of this museum with a $120,000 RCCF grant in 2016 for the purchase and renovation of the museum’s building and establishment of a permanent cultural space.

The new exhibits include:

Music and Sound Lab: This hands-on exhibit is all about seeing sound and making music. Discover the inner workings of a piano with a specially designed, entirely see-through “clear piano.” Watch voices become ripples in sand as a Chladni plate creates a visual representation of sound waves. A Theremin—a unique instrument invented by a Russian physicist—invites kids to make music with a wave of their hands. A highly visual experience with sound and music, this exhibit also features a Mohawk Sound Wall with replicas of three different Mohawk rattles and a water drum.
Peek-A-Boo Corner: A quiet enclosed infant play area, the Peek-A-Boo Corner, offers a space for tummy time, baby play, or nursing. With windows that look out onto the second floor of the museum, this cozy area allows parents to keep an eye on older children while giving their infants and babies a place to rest, play, and explore.
Physics Trail: Engage with energy and motion along the physics trail! Kids can experience how clouds are created as water vapor collects at the indoor cloud maker and launch a powerful puff of air with the kid-powered air cannon. A giant bug-eye lens offers a new look at light and color, giving kids a chance to see their world through the eyes of an insect. The filaments of a hands-on Plasma Ball dance as they respond to touch and sound. An exploration into the way the world works, kids will deepen their understanding of matter, motion, and energy.
Addie’s Opera House: There’s more to a live production than the performers on stage. Addie’s Opera House gives kids an all-access, hands-on experience of the inner workings of a theater house. Run the light board, manage the ticket booth, or get wrapped up in the excitement of the backstage dressing room. This kid-sized opera house invites young thespians into dramatic play both on and off the stage. At Addie’s Opera House, kids run the show.
Amish House: This Swartzentruber-style home was handmade by local Amish builders to reflect the Amish way of life. A two-story playhouse with a porch and garden, this replica of an Amish home allows kids to experience the day-to-day life of an Amish family. A pump sink, cook and heat stoves, baby bed, and clothesline invite kids to appreciate the unique homelife of their Amish neighbors.
Maple Forest Climber: A dynamic, forest-themed climbing structure gives kids a chance to climb, crawl, and lift themselves to new heights. With a central climbing column that leads to a rooftop lookout, this vibrant play space gets kids moving in new ways. Kids can explore the pulley-powered sit-and-lift seat and floor-level climbers or use their strength to reach the top of the town. This exhibit provides a new perspective while building body confidence and problem-solving skills.

For more information about visiting the North Country Children’s Museum, including hours and admission, visit https://northcountrychildrensmuseum.org.

New York State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative is about creating vibrant downtowns that support families, strengthen local economies and enhance quality of life. The expansion of the North Country Children’s Museum checks all these boxes with the new imaginative, interactive exhibits that allow children to explore, create and discover new things, all while bringing new energy to downtown Potsdam. With Governor Hochul’s continued support for the DRI, projects like this are helping the North Country build welcoming community spaces that will serve residents and visitors for years to come.”

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Thanks to HCR’s New York Main Street program, more than $14 million has been awarded to non-profits and local governments under Governor Hochul’s leadership to boost the economic vitality of traditional Main Streets and neighborhood hubs across New York. The renovation and expansion of the North Country Children’s Museum reflects this, as well as HCR’s holistic approach to provide healthy and stable places for individuals and families to live and thrive. Thank you to museum leadership and State partners for investing in this Potsdam treasure so children can enjoy the museum for years to come.”

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “NYSCA is a proud supporter of the North Country Children’s Museum and its mission to create new learning opportunities for young minds to explore, discover and grow. This transformative new space will serve residents and visitors for decades to come. Projects like these demonstrate how New York State understands the importance of supporting arts and culture to ensure the health of our communities and inspire learners of all ages.”

Village of Potsdam Mayor Alexandra Jacobs Wilke said, “As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how the North Country Children’s Museum can inspire curiosity, bring people together, and spark new life in our downtown. It has been thrilling to see the newly opened second floor filled with excited children and families as they explore all the new exhibits and programming. This much-anticipated expansion signifies a major investment in our community's future—inspiring our youngest residents and visitors and growing a vital institution in the heart of our downtown core at the same time.”

The North Country Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization formed in 2012 by a group of educators with a collective vision to create a cultural and educational center for families. It developed a “Museum without Walls,” bringing pop-up STEAM exhibits and programs to local festivals, bookstores, bakeries, and community centers. In 2018, it opened its permanent space at 10 Raymond Street in historic downtown Potsdam. The museum’s exhibits celebrate the culture and geography of the North Country and reflect a commitment to hands-on, minds-on learning.

The Village of Potsdam was named the North Country DRI round 4 winner in October 2019. In addition to the North Country Children’s Museum, other projects awarded DRI funding in Potsdam include revitalizing the Creative Spirit Community Arts Center, constructing a Downtown Riverwalk Trail, enhancing the downtown streetscape, creating downtown branding, relocating and expanding the Potsdam Food Co-op and establishing a fund to rebuild downtown Potsdam.

About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward are cornerstones of the state’s economic development policy. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. NY Forward was created in 2022 to revitalize smaller and rural communities throughout the state so that all communities can benefit from the state’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges. Led by the Department of State—with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority the DRI and NY Forward represent an unprecedented and innovative “plan-then-act” strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation. Both programs are creating a critical mass of vibrant downtowns in every region of the state that is enhancing economic development, promoting quality of life, fostering socio-economic development and achieving the state’s bold climate goals.

In the first seven rounds of the DRI, the state has committed $800 million, investing in 81 downtowns ripe for revitalization that have the potential to become magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, greater economic and housing diversity and opportunity. In the first two rounds of NY Forward, the state has committed $200 million, investing in 43 smaller and rural downtowns.

With the Governor’s commitment in 2025 of an additional $100 million each for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward, the State has now invested a combined total of $1.2 billion in both programs since their inception, serving 122 communities combined.

About Empire State Development
ESD is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through ILOVENY. For more information, please visit ESD’s website here, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

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