In my first month of being a frosh, I couldn’t help but notice how many times I was told to check out the Children’s Museum in Kitchener. At first I thought it was a joke, because the name brings to mind blinking lights and interactive talking bacteria (which might amuse me anyway). Well, they do have those things at the Children’s Museum, but they also have exhibits that target adults, like Andy Warhol’s Factory 2009 from last year.
In fact, we can expect more grown-up exhibits soon because the Children’s Museum is rumoured to be changing its name to just the Museum in the future. Prospective exhibits include the Titanic and ancient Egypt. Located on King St. a short walk from Charles St. Terminal, the Children’s Museum is a modern Kitchener landmark. It is home to a living wall and a licensed café featuring local food and beer.
The adult attraction currently being showcased is Our Body: The Universe Within, which may not be for everyone. This is very similar to the exhibit Bodyworlds on display at the Ontario Science Centre and seen in Casino Royale. It features real human bodies preserved by polymer impregnation, or plastination. In this process, fat and water in the body are replaced by polymers so that organs, muscles, and blood vessels become pliable and suitable for display in the open air. Our Body is not just for med school hopefuls and morbid individuals; it is a frank look at the human body and the diverse systems within it. Different displays focus on particular areas of the circulatory system, nervous system, digestive system, and joints to name a few. It’s pretty eye-opening to realize how complicated a living being is.
The exhibit was very expensive to bring to the museum, but due to a spike in corporate and community interest, it is making a profit. Students get in at a discounted price of $15 and regular adults are $25. Our Body is on display until April 11 of this year, and as a complement, the Children’s Museum also has a public lecture series related to health care on Sundays. You have to book tickets to guarantee a seat, which can be done online, but they are free! Don’t let its name fool you; the Children’s Museum is an up and coming spot for curious minds of all ages, so keep an eye out for an exhibit that may interest you.
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