Glazer Children's Museum Forts Exhibit

Expanded FORTS exhibit now open at Glazer Children’s Museum and it’s awesome!

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Just in time for spring break, Glazer Children's Museum unveiled its expanded FORTS exhibit on the second floor, and it's what every kid's fort-building dreams are made of.

When you step inside the 1,100 square foot space, you feel as if you've stepped inside “grandma's house”.  It's giving us major grandmacore vibes with the gorgeous quilts and thoughtful decor and we're here for it.

A young boy in a bright green rash guard and patterned swim trunks smiles excitedly with his arms outstretched while standing in shallow water at a colorful water park. Behind him, vibrant blue, red, and yellow water slides and play structures tower under a partly cloudy sky.

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Everything has a purpose in this space, and thought was put into every piece you'll find here. The design team scoured local antique shops to find something special to add to the exhibit, from unique books to a refurbished grandfather clock and mantel. Even the museum's CEO, Sara Colo, contributed a beautiful quilt collage of Glazer Children's Museum that sits on top of the mantel.

There's even a touch of modern tech, using projection mapping technology to make paintings on the wall move almost like magic. One of our favorite touches was the hidden nook inside the wardrobe, which is reminiscent of the Chronicles of Narnia. 

Glazer Children's Museum Forts exhibit inside the secret wardrobe
Zoe's daughter Lucy inside the secret wardrobe in the FORTS exhibit. Photo by Laura Byrne.

Here's what else you'll find in the FORTS exhibit:

  • Quilts, blankets, couches, and chairs galore to build whatever your child's heart desires. The quilts and blankets can be secured on hooks on the furniture.
  • Stairs for kids to climb that aren't too high–it was a big hit with the little ones on the first day. They couldn't resist a chance to climb up the “real stairs”.
  • Movebale knobs to promote fine motor skills.
  • An old-school rotary phone for a little added nostalgia. The kids loved it!

While all of these things are fun, there is a purpose behind all of the elements of play here. FORTS is an example of loose-parts play, which can be any set of natural or human-made objects that expand play.

“Play is at the heart of everything we do at Glazer Children’s Museum, and fort-building is an incredible way to spark imagination and creativity,” said Sarah Cole, President & CEO of Glazer Children’s Museum. “With this expansion, we’re giving children an even bigger space to construct, collaborate, and explore—all through the power of play. There’s nothing quite like the sound of children giggling as they build their own worlds. That’s learning and creativity at work.”

It was a big hit, especially with our editorial assistant Zoe Joiner and her girls!

Glazer Children's Museum Forts build
Glazer Children's Museum CEO Sarah Cole helps the Joiner family build a blanket fort in the “living room”. Photo by Laura Byrne

FORTS is a permanent addition to the museum, which will also soon debut another new permanent exhibit, Let's See, in partnership with the Glazer Vision Foundation. And don't forget- you can still visit the world's largest fossil triceratops on the third floor!