The Staten Island Children's Museum is a children's museum on the grounds of Sailors' Snug Harbor on Staten Island, New York, opened in 1976, following community and government support for the project. The museum stresses a hands-on interactive approach to its exhibits and currently offers visitors nine separate exhibit areas. Current exhibits include House About It (Home building), Bugs and other insects, Great Explorations, Sea of Boats, Ladder 11, Portia's Playhouse, the Garden Terrace and Big Games. A large metal sculpture of a Praying Mantis, named Francis the Praying Mantis, is located in front of the museum.The museum houses a small live animal exhibit featuring arachnids and insects on display.GrantsThe museums pet care exhibet was created in part with support from VCA veterinary clinics. In 2005, the museum was among 406 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.Building HistoryThe Children's Museum consists of two buildings with a connecting walkway. The museum is housed in the main building which was originally built in 1913 as part of the Snug Harbor Complex and the old snug harbor barn where the livestock was originally kept to feed the residents of Sailors Snug Harbor. When the museum was developed, a modern walkway was built connecting the two structures to create one museum building.
