Message from Sunnee O’Rork, executive director of the i.d.e.a. Museum:

We have some fantastic news to share! The i.d.e.a. Museum will be welcoming member and donor families back starting on Saturday, Oct. 31. And we will open to the general public the following Saturday, Nov. 7.

Online reservations for members will be available starting at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12.  Stay tuned for more details in the days ahead.

Currently, our museum staff is diligently working on getting the museum ready for your return. Some changes we’ve already noted include installing low-touch and touchless activities and more hand sanitizing stations, enhancing cleaning protocols and introducing one-way routing through the museum. We’re also implementing a reduced capacity for the time being to promote social distancing in the museum, as well as initially requiring timed ticketing through online reservations for admission. We’ll be posting more information on those items – as well as our business hours – in our FAQs soon.

We appreciate Mesa’s City Council dedication to reopening the museum – based on guidance from the state and health agencies – so that our community has a fun place to visit that supports early learning, nurtures creative thinking and engages families in quality time.

To our members, donors, volunteers, and other supporters, we thank you for your patience during our extended intermission. And we can’t wait to see you and to hear your laughter as you engage with our activities again this fall.

In the meantime, please visit our website and social media because we continue to publish some creative activities for your family to do while you’re at home.

Stay safe and healthy.