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About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 2019)
4A ❚ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019 ❚ APPEAL TRIBUNE Life in the Valley The front kiosk will be removed and the entryway will be redesigned in the coming year to make way for a bubble exhibit at Gilbert House Children's Museum in Salem. The Gilbert House is celebrating 30 years with a birthday party on Dec. 21. Photographed on Dec. 10, 2019. ANNA REED / STATESMAN JOURNAL Celebrate Gilbert House’s 30-year anniversary Abby Luschei Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Emile Holden was determined to set a record. The 3-year-old was running around the “Up, Up and Away“ exhibit at the Gil- bert House Children’s Museum with his dad, Nathan. They wanted to get every foam piece scattered on the floor into the exhibit’s vertical wind tube. “Up, Up and Away” allows children to learn about aerodynamics. Next door, 2-year-old Amaya Vierra was exploring the museum’s “Farm to Table“ exhibit. She pretended to drive a tractor and then showed her mom the apple and potato she “picked from the orchard.” It’s this type of play that’s been at the heart of Gilbert House since it officially opened Dec. 19, 1989 — meaning this month marks the museum’s 30th anni- versary. Everyone’s invited to a birthday par- ty on Saturday, Dec. 21, to celebrate the milestone. Over three decades, the children’s museum located by Riverfront Park has become quite the destination. Alicia Bay, executive director of Gilbert House, said they see about 100,000 visitors each year, with about 60% coming from the Salem and Keizer area. “The group that started this museum ... had such an early vision for what this could be for the community,” she said. “(30 years is) really exciting.” Bay and promotions coordinator Sa- mantha Bowdoin are proud of the mu- seum’s growth the last several years, like an increased amount of visitors an- nually and reaching different demo- graphics within the community. The next year or so will bring many changes to the nonprofit. This includes the Outdoor Discovery Area transform- ing into The Inventor’s Yard, a project announced in December 2018 slated to come to fruition in 2021. Sierra Langford, exhibits and facili- ties coordinator for Gilbert House, said most of the outdoor playscape will be replaced. The current structure had about a 20-year life expectancy, and they are currently in year 21. The updated outdoor playscape will improve accessibility by removing most stairs and overhead obstacles and have more nature-based play opportunities, Emile Holden, 3, of Salem, plays at Gilbert House Children's Museum in Salem on Dec. 10. The Gilbert House is celebrating 30 years with a birthday party on Dec. 21. ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL Langford said. But the most anticipated change is the return of the Bubble Room, a pop- ular exhibit that flooded in 2012. Bay said they are constantly getting asked about its return. “It’s such a fun part of Salem history that people connect to ... and have such distinct and fond memories of being in it as a child,” she said. “To bring it back in a way for the next generation to play in a really new and improved way, we are ex- cited about that.” “Bill’s Bubble Factory“ will feature five different ways to play with bubbles and is set to be completed by May 2020. It’ll be featured front and center near the entrance, outside the historic houses, where there are currently ramps and a kiosk. The future is bringing many changes to Gilbert House, but Bowdoin said they didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to celebrate what the museum’s accom- plished the past 30 years. Admission to Gilbert House will be free Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyone is invited to explore the exhibits, play outside, participate in birthday activities and enjoy birthday treats while supplies last. For more information, visit acgilbert.org. Abby Luschei is the arts and enter- tainment reporter for the Statesman Journal and can be reached at alus- chei@statesmanjournal.com or 503- 399-6747. If you go What: Gilbert House Children’s Museum 30th birthday party When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 Location: 116 Marion St. NE Information: 503-371-3631 Interested in telling at one of the up- coming Salem Storytellers Project events? Submit your story: www.storytellersproject.com/tell.