Playing it Forward at Marbles Kids Museum

This downtown institution has launched a campaign to expand its offerings to create more opportunities for fun and learning.
by Emmie Brooks

If you build it, they will play — and if it’s Marbles Kids Museum, they’ll learn a little something, too. Since its debut in 2007, this well-loved institution has been a community hub, early education ecosystem and a go-to spot for celebrations, from birthday parties to weddings. In an age of screen time and schedule overload, it’s a place to practice hands-on, hearts-open learning. But with its popularity comes a challenge: there just isn’t enough space.

“We are at capacity on a lot of the days when families want and need us the most,” says CEO Jonathan Frederick. “Almost all of our big programs and special events, from our summer camp programs to our Kooky Spooky Halloween Party, sell out like that.”

That’s why Marbles is gearing up for the largest expansion in its history. The Bigger Play, Brighter Futures campaign will add 3,000 square feet of wildly imaginative space, including a city of the future, a rooftop racetrack and a classroom called the Think Tank.

One of the most anticipated additions is Futuropolis, a one-of-a-kind exhibit designed to spark curiosity about the world ahead. Here, kids will step into the shoes of builders, engineers, inventors and other problem-solvers shaping tomorrow’s cities, exploring the building blocks of real careers in the Triangle’s growing industries.

“There’s going to be construction play, biotechnology play, transportation play and building play,” says Frederick. “Most people, when they think about career exploration, think about high school students, but a lot of research shows that even elementary schoolers can think about their possibilities and get inspired.”

After zooming through the city of tomorrow, young visitors and their caregivers will be able to get their heads in the clouds… sort of. The Marbles Skyway will be a rooftop play zone with a racetrack and downtown views. “We are creating a spot for families to go outside and get a breath of fresh air,” says Frederick. “It’s going to be a nice touchpoint as folks are visiting the museum.”

Meanwhile, a new Think Tank classroom will expand the museum’s educational programs, offering new opportunities for summer camps, field trips and family activities. The campaign also supports the Marbles Impact Fund, an initiative aimed at ensuring long-term play affordability and access.

“It’ll be a great chance for us to expand our educational access for the audiences who need us the most,” says Frederick. “Children in Raleigh need more spaces for play, and Marbles is the best at it.”