Knoxville families have a reason to celebrate. Muse Knoxville, the city’s beloved children’s museum, unveiled an ambitious expansion plan that will increase its footprint from roughly 10,000 square feet to about 57,100 square feet. The project, slated to open in the summer of 2028, promises far more room for discovery, imagination and hands‑on learning for children, middle‑schoolers, high‑schoolers and their teachers.
Funding and partnership with the city
The museum’s “Grow with Me” capital campaign targets $50 million to fund renovations of the historic Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park and to develop new exhibits, classrooms and accessibility upgrades. To date, donors have pledged or committed roughly $33 million, highlighted by a $25 million gift from the Clayton Family Foundation. The total project value is estimated at $83.2 million, which includes an additional $33.2 million in in‑kind contributions from the City of Knoxville. The city has agreed to a long‑term lease of the Jacob Building for a symbolic $1 per year, underscoring municipal support for a project that will benefit the entire community.
New exhibit spaces and educational opportunities
Designs for the expanded museum showcase a wide array of interactive experiences. Young visitors will be able to explore construction, engineering, transportation, aviation, space, energy and Tennessee waterways through hands‑on stations that encourage problem‑solving and scientific inquiry. Highlights include a large climbing structure, an interactive modular home and dedicated spaces for sound and sensory experiments. The museum also plans to add a sizable climbing tower and collaborative zones that foster imagination and teamwork.
Serving a broader age range
With the additional square footage, Muse Knoxville will extend its reach beyond early childhood. The new layout will accommodate more middle‑ and high‑school students, allowing the museum to host larger field trips, expanded summer camps and a richer slate of educational programs. During the 2025‑26 school year, the museum reported turning away field‑trip requests from ten East Tennessee school districts because its current facility could not meet demand. The expansion directly addresses that shortfall, ensuring that more classrooms can connect curriculum to real‑world discovery.
Affordability remains a core promise
Despite the scale of the project, Muse Knoxville officials stressed that affordability will not be compromised. Through the “Muse for All” initiative, families receiving Tennessee government assistance can purchase an annual family membership for $35, a fraction of the standard $160 price. The museum also offers scholarships for qualifying schools, free family nights on the fourth Friday of each month, and partnerships aimed at reaching underserved communities. These programs will continue unchanged as the museum grows.
Community impact and local pride
The expansion reflects a regional investment in children’s education and family life. Foundations, businesses, government agencies and individual donors have rallied behind the project, recognizing the museum’s role as a cultural anchor in East Tennessee. By providing a larger, modern space for experiential learning, Muse Knoxville helps nurture the next generation of innovators, engineers and curious citizens—an outcome that aligns with the values of strong families and faith‑based communities.
Looking ahead
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the renovated Jacob Building opening its doors in the summer of 2028. Residents can follow progress through the museum’s “Grow with Me” campaign website and look forward to a vibrant new chapter for one of Knoxville’s most cherished institutions.
Original reporting: Knox TN Today — read the source article.
