Children's Museum Houston

Our Free Family Nights aren’t just about exhibits and programs, they’re also about the people who give their all to make special moments happen for Houston’s kids. At a recent Free Family Night, volunteers from ExxonMobil showed children how to control spherical robots as they learned about computer coding. When a toddler wanted to join in on the fun, the volunteers had no problem switching to a game of chase the robot ball. Little moments like these bring visitors back to Free Family Nights over and over again. Thank you to all of our volunteers, and to ExxonMobil for sponsoring Children's Museum Houston's second Free Family Night of each month. #STEMforEveryone #ExxonMobilGiving

Children’s Museum Houston is deeply heartbroken to learn of the passing of the honorable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. A visionary leader and cherished founding board member, Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s unwavering dedication to children’s education and health resources transformed countless lives, championing equity for all families. Her enduring support for the Museum’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations and her pivotal role in our 2009 expansion, including the development and funding of our garage, stand as enduring monuments to her remarkable legacy. Congresswoman Jackson Lee radiated the values of diversity and kindness, inspiring the creation of our upcoming “Faithful Friends” exhibit. This beautiful exhibit will teach children the virtues of kindness and understanding by exploring the myriad of religions practiced around the world and in Houston. Her recent nomination of the Museum for the prestigious 2024 IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service brought us immense pride, as we won this esteemed accolade and brought it back to Houston after 27 years. Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s profound belief in putting families first saw her leveraging the Museum’s recognition to highlight health grants in Harris County and encourage civic participation during election years. Her legacy will resonate through our halls and hearts, inspiring us for generations to come. “Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a beacon of hope and compassion. I’ve listened to her speak to children, and her message was always clear: we must love one another, speak up, and be kind. She was the driving force behind our principles of diversity, equity and inclusion at Children’s Museum Houston. Because of her inspiration, we eagerly anticipate opening the ‘Faithful Friends’ exhibit, a testament to her vision that will teach children and families to cherish each other and our differences. We thank you, Sheila Jackson Lee, and our children thank you,” said Children’s Museum Houston CEO Rayanne Darensbourg. 📸 Cody Duty Taken during 28th Annual MLK Day celebration, Jan. 9, 2024.

One of the Museum’s greatest advocates is back on our Board! CMH is excited to announce that Geoffrey Bracken is returning to its Board of Directors after serving on the Advisory Board. Geoff has played a vital role in the Museum’s growth and development. As CMH’s Board President from 2015 through 2018, Geoff provided guidance for major projects, including the launch of the Museum’s sister location, the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center. His many years of leadership at CMH includes serving as the VP of Board Activities and the VP of Strategic Planning.   Geoff is Chair of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Energy Litigation Practice Group and Vice Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. As a partner in the firm’s Houston office, he represents individuals and businesses in both personal injury and commercial litigation matters in trials, on appeals, and in arbitration proceedings. Geoff has tried more than 65 cases—including 25 reported cases, among them two Supreme Court of Texas cases—and has conducted numerous domestic and international arbitrations. He is the former managing partner of the firm’s Denver office.   Thank you, Geoff, for providing valuable leadership on CMH's Board of Directors!

Giving back is a family tradition for Tracy Glesby Northington. She is a fourth-generation Houstonian whose family has been a part of Children’s Museum Houston since its inception. We are pleased to announce that Tracy is continuing this legacy by joining the Museum’s Advisory Board! Tracy is the founder of Glesby Fine Properties, a real estate brokerage that specializes in residential properties within and near the inner loop. She provides first-class service to buyers, sellers, and builders as she creates a true connection with her clients to meet their needs. She is also involved in diverse businesses from the West Coast to the Florida Keys, and is the co-owner of Glesby Marks Leasing, LA Cold Storage, and Standard Southern Corporation. Within the community, Tracy is an active member of The Junior League of Houston, Inc., and she serves on committees for the Menil, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. She is a member of the Amegy Development Board, and she is a part of many young professional groups including Hermann Park Conservancy, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition to her successful career and extensive community service, she is also a mother of three and an active alumna of Episcopal High School and Southern Methodist University. We look forward to Tracy’s leadership as a valued member of our Advisory Board!

Summer has arrived and Camp Adventure is in full force! 🔍 Hosted by Julia C. Hester House this month in partnership with the Children's Museum Houston, our campers are diving into the fascinating world of climate change. They're exploring how organisms connect in ecosystems and discovering sustainable recycling practices. ♻

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH: The Noir Ball: A Celebration of Haunted Elegance - the annual Children’s Museum Gala is back! Don’t miss this spectacular fundraising event. Dress in your best and join us for an unforgettable evening including a gourmet dinner, a stellar live and silent auction, and dancing! 💃 =>cmhouston.info/gala

At Children's Museum Houston, our visitors don’t just learn about their heroes, they get to meet them. Earlier this month, we welcomed U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock for a very special storytime. Senator Warnock told his story of becoming the first Black senator from Georgia, reading his autobiographical children's book, "Put Your Shoes On, and Get Ready!" He even high-fived some of our young visitors and signed copies of his book. It was an inspirational, memorable day for Houston’s families.

How does CMH deliver top-notch programming to more than 700,000 visitors annually? It starts with Board members like Jeb Bowden! We are excited to announce that Jeb has returned to our Board of Directors. Jeb brings his extensive expertise in a wide range of fields. As the Chief Operating Officer at The Hanover Company, he provides strategic oversight of the company’s property management, asset management, human resources, information technology and accounting departments. Prior to his current position, he led the disposition effort of over $3.0 billion in total assets. He also played a major role in the creation of Hanover Company’s international initiative, Clairmont Global, as well as in establishing Hanover Company’s support office in Ahmedabad, India. Jeb graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and is a father of three. As a longtime supporter of the Museum, Jeb has served on both CMH’s Board and Advisory Board, and he was the Co-Chair of the Museum's 2017 Spring Golf Classic. We are looking forward to Jeb’s continued leadership on our Board of Directors as we build a brighter future for Houston’s children.

Grateful to KIAH-TV and Maggie Flecknoe for the amazing opportunity to share our Juneteenth happenings today. We spotlighted performance speed painter Ange Hillz who painted our facade under 3 min.! What a talent!

We had an amazing opportunity to share our Juneteenth celebration on KPRC and brought along children's book author, Tonya Ellis, who wrote "They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston's Emancipation Park." Don't miss our lineup of amazing authors, musicians and performers during our Juneteenth event on June 19 at the Museum!