Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, Marbles serves a diverse population of families, school groups and community organizations with dozens of themed exhibits, summer camps, IMAX documentary and feature movies and special events year-round.
Mission Statement
Marbles sparks imagination, discovery and learning through play. Marbles has 5 core initiatives:
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Ready Set Learn. Play builds intellectual, social and emotional skills for success in learning and in life.
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Be Healthy, Be Active. Play promotes physical development and good health.
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Create, Innovate. Play encourages imagination, creativity and self-expression.
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Explore, Experiment. Play leads to discovery and kindles curiosity.
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Connect. Play teaches cooperation and collaboration, strengthens families and unites our community.
Our Play-losophy
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We believe play contributes to intellectual growth, social and emotional well-being and physical development.
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We believe play helps develop 21st century workers who are able to solve problems, apply ideas, create, innovate, communicate and connect with others.
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We believe play unites communities around the critical importance of the childhood experience.
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We believe play strengthens families.
Our History
Marbles Kids Museum opened its doors September 29, 2007. After a suspenseful 24-day transformation, the crowd was wowed when we unveiled our new name and new exhibits! Marbles Kids Museum followed the merger of community organizations Exploris and Playspace. Why Marbles? A wall that wraps around the museum is filled with more than one million marbles that light up at night. And Marbles is a nickname for brains. At Marbles Kids Museum, kids are encouraged to use their marbles - learning new things through imagination, discovery and play.
Sustainability Statement
Marbles Kids Museum is committed to practicing environmental sustainability and stewardship.
What We Do
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Marbles observes all laws enacted to protect the environment.
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Marbles views play as a need intertwined with sustaining futures. We create and deliver engaging and meaningful play experiences to build awareness of environmental sustainability and prompt stewardship at the individual and family level.
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Marbles is mindful of the environmental impact of the materials we use and consume.
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Marbles provides engaging exterior spaces to connect people to the outdoors in our urban environment.
Where We Work
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Marbles operates on unceded land that provided life for indigenous people and communities for thousands of years prior to European colonization.
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Marbles honors this land and its past and present inhabitants, including descendants of indigenous people, by reducing waste, increasing recycling, prioritizing the use of recycled materials, and keeping an open mind to ways we can improve our impact on this land so that play and learning may abound.
Who We Serve
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Marbles understands that sustainability and stewardship also encompass social equity. We aim to be a safe and playful space for all visitors.
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Marbles recognizes that play helps foster resiliency and problem-solving abilities – two skills that are crucial for building sustainable futures.
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Marbles does this work to engage and connect our community, to honor people who have come before us, and to conserve and protect resources for future generations.
Marbles Kids Museum will continuously seek ways to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our environmental practices.