PORTLAND — It’s big and beautiful, light-filled, and colorful. The new Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is a sheer delight and guaranteed to put a smile on your face (and teach you a thing or two), no matter your age.
The three-floor, 30,000-square-foot facility, located in the emerging Thompson’s Point waterfront area in Portland, opened June 24, and is expected to draw more than 200,000 visitors annually. More than $15 million was raised for the new museum (surpassing the initial goal of $14 million), which showcases the work of national exhibit designers and local artisans.
The fun begins before you even open the Museum & Theatre doors. There’s a half-acre outdoor space that includes a large picnic area overlooking Fore River, a labyrinth, and the fenced-in Outdoor Adventure area, where you can climb, dig, and build with natural materials. There’s also a teaching…