Leonardo’s opens second-phase to public, including exhibits, classrooms – Enid News & Eagle

Members of the Leonardo's Children's Museum board, Vance Air Force Base wing commanders and members of the Enid Chamber of Commerce were all present Saturday morning for the public unveiling of a $6.2 million capital improvement project.

Executive Director Tracy Bittle said when the idea of Leonardo's began some 25 years ago no one knew the children's museum would become what it is today.

She said through the generosity and commitments of area leaders, businesses and organizations, Leonardo's Children Museum has become a Northwest Oklahoma destination, as well as a place where children can learn and grow.

"Enid is a place like no other place I've ever experienced," she said. "There is no other place in the world like Enid, America."

Bittle told those in attendance that Leonardo's began as a summer camp for children to do things not necessarily sports related.

"We're changing people's lives," she told those in attendance. "Thank you for making this happen. So, you guys, just go have a great time and play."

Phase 2 included the unveiling of an education annex that is already hosting about 75 summer camp students, and ninenew exhibits on the second floor representing the key features of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma. The exhibits include an agriculture exhibit, dentist and hearing office, Jumbos grocery store, Edward Jones Financial Center, Vance Air Force Base, Farmer's Market, Oklahoma wind power exhibit and an art studio.

Longtime Leonardo's Board of Directors Eldon Ames was present for Saturday's ceremony was on examining the new exhibits on the second floor of the museum.

Ames was one of the original board members and was president of the board when AdventureQuest was being built.

"It's pretty neat. Very slick," James said of the second phase. "When we started, we had a lot of homemade exhibits. When we started we thought this could put Enid on the map."

Ames said in the beginning, he never thought it would become what it was Saturday.

"Not quite like this," he said, "and certainly not the building next door."

Former Leonardo's Executive Director Julie Baird was also on hand Saturday morning, checking out the newest exhibits upstairs.

She said she was in on the planning for Phase 2 but never imagined it to turn out as well as it did.

"You can see the concepts, you can see the renderings but you don't really have a great grip on how wonderful it really is," she said. "This was a 'pretend city' concept and we wanted it to be be true to Enid."

Phase 1 of the renovation was finished and open to the public in April 2016, and included building utility updates and a Power Tower a two-story climbing exhibit educating children on Oklahomas role in powering the country.

Other Phase 1 additions included a Critter Clubhouse, Integris medical clinic, an infant and toddler sensory area and the Oklahoma Museum Network area, which is a revolving exhibit that currently features Red Dirt Dinos, an exhibit featuring dinosaurs native to Oklahoma.

Leonardo's Children Museum, 200 E. Maple, is open10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $9 for everyone 2 years and older.

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Leonardo's opens second-phase to public, including exhibits, classrooms - Enid News & Eagle