BETTENDORF, IOWA (June 9, 2020) — After raising more than $500,000 through grants, corporate donors, private donors, and public sources; the Family Museum is ready to open the Luckey Climber presented by Genesis Birth Center to the public. On Thursday, June 11, at 5:30PM, prior to the public opening, the Museum will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony with invited local granting organizations, Bettendorf’s Mayor Robert Gallagher, members of the City of Bettendorf City Council, and Family Museum staff. In order to practice social-distancing, this ribbon-cutting is not open to the public, but it will be live-streamed on Facebook. The Luckey Climber will be open to the public beginning Friday, June 12, during normal business hours (M-Sat: 9AM-5PM; Sun: 12-5PM).
This two-story climber, located in the Great Hall of the Family Museum, is made up of large climbing platforms and is surrounded by a secure vinyl-coated cable-netting. This artistically-stunning structure allows Family Museum guests to climb from the first floor to the second floor while observing photographs of clouds on the platforms on the climb up and aerial photographs on the way down. The climber is designed in such a way that there is no fall greater than 18 inches making it safe for the Museum’s young demographic. While intended for young children, all ages are welcome to climb!
Fundraising for the project started in 2016, and in early 2020 Genesis Medical Center president Jordan Voight presented the final donation on behalf of the Genesis Birth Center to the Family Museum. Other contributors include Roy J Carver Charitable Trust, City of Bettendorf, Scott County Regional Authority, John Deere Foundation, Charles and Nancy von Maur, Hunt and Diane Harris Family Foundation, and the Regional Development Authority.
Family Museum guests will also notice changes when they arrive to the second floor balcony. The Family Museum has combined its art studio, clay studio, and ThinkShop into the Imagination Studio where visitors can create with art supplies, work with clay, and build with tools to bring their ideas to fruition. Imagination Studio is open Monday-Saturday, 9:AM-4PM, and Sunday, noon–5PM; it is included with general admission.
This one-of-a-kind installation was designed and installed by Luckey LLC out of New Haven, Connecticut. This is the first Luckey Climber in the state of Iowa. Other climbers have been installed in zoos, parks, aquariums, and theme parks around the world. For more information about Luckey Climbers, please visit their website at luckeyclimbers.com
The Family Museum is a department of the City of Bettendorf, Iowa, and has been a community resource for over 20 years. The Museum offers a unique, hands-on, learning experience that is designed primarily for children eight and under. Kids and their caregivers can engage in play-based exhibits, day programs, dance classes, and other enriching activities guided by the knowledgeable Museum staff. Summer hours are Monday–Saturday, 9AM–5PM, and Sunday, noon–5PM. Admission is $9 per guest with various discounts for seniors, military, etc.
