Children's Museum finds home at Pasco mall

PASCO -- During a recent Pirates discovery class in the Children's Museum of the Three Rivers, a 4-year-old approached museum director Jolene Hatke.

"Ms. Jolene, how am I going to make it a whole month without visiting here?" he asked.

He and other children around the Tri-Cities won't have to worry.

The museum, after 3 1/2 weeks of scrambling and searching for a new building, has found another home at the Broadmoor Outlet Mall in Pasco.

Charter College is scheduled to expand into the museum's space at 5274 Outlet Drive by the end of the summer. So the museum will start to vacate its space this weekend, and volunteers have approached her about helping today and Sunday with the move.

They won't have to haul items very far.

"Just turn around and cross the parking lot," she said.

The museum's new home is at 5220 Outlet Drive, an empty and spacious space smelling of a new coat of paint.

"This is it," exclaimed Hatke, her arms outstretched.

Soon, the bare four walls will hold a train, an ambulance, castle, the towering USS Friend-Ship and many energetic children.

Some of those planning to help are a group of teenagers from the Volunteer Center, a Boy Scout troop, Randolph Construction Services and others from all over the community, Hatke said.

"There's always been (a heart in the community), and it's nice to see it in action," said Hatke about the outpour of support.

Employees of Ashley Furniture in Richland are among those planning to volunteer, standing by with their tools and trucks.

When Ashley's Regional Operations Manager Aaron Sanchez found out about the museum's situation, he jumped at the opportunity to help.

"I've been there with my kids and it's a place that I've grown accustomed to," he said.

He sent word to Ashley's headquarters in Missoula, and suggested the company get involved.

"(The move) is a phenomenal thing, and it would be great if we could be a part of it," Sanchez said.

Taking down the exhibits and re-assembling them are going to be the biggest challenges, Hatke said.

Sanchez and seven of his men will have access to three moving trucks and all the tools necessary to complete the process, he said.

"And if I can get guys who (move furniture) all day every day, it would make things a lot easier."

The weekend will cover the bulk of the move, said Hatke and the museum will be closed in July to take care of the rest of the odds and ends, including building a party room at the new location.

The museum's doors are scheduled to reopen Aug. 6.

Until then, children like 7-year-old Abby Hedges and her 4-year-old sister Lizzy of Kennewick will have to find a new place to play bank and dress-up with their 7-year-old cousin, Madison Hedges, visiting from Arizona.

"We really lucked out," said Mark Hedges, Madison's father on Friday. "We didn't know tomorrow's the (museum's) last day here."

The move will begin today at 5:30 p.m. after the museum closes and will continue through Sunday.

For more information, call 543-7866 or visit www.childrensmuseumtr.org.