Ames will soon have a new form of family entertainment in the former North Grand 2 Theatres location.

The Children’s Museum of Central Iowa will open its doors in North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave., in mid-November, said Dave Utrata, vice president of the museum’s board.

“The museum will provide alternative entertainment and functions for families to do,” said Utrata, associate scientist for the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation at ISU.

The museum began as a road show that traveled to school science nights and libraries, he said. During the summer, the museum began holding exhibits at North Grand and now is moving into its first permanent location. The board signed a one-year lease with North Grand and will open in the main lobby of the old theaters.

“Ideally, we are starting out small until we outgrow that space, then we will move,” Utrata said.

Along with Utrata, the original board members are Ken Moore, professor of agronomy, Lisa Fontaine, associate professor of art and design, and Ames resident Paul Hudson, who is the board president. There are about a dozen actively involved board members.

There will be five major categories for the exhibits: science and technology, fine arts, natural history, our town/our world and physical play. The target audience is kindergartners through 10th graders.

“The museum is meant to educate and entertain kids as well as adults,” Utrata said. “The museum is a way for parents to get involved with their kids and the learning process, as well as have fun.”

There may be exhibit space for student groups to show off their talents, he said.

“It gives the university a chance to reach out to smaller kids and let them know what takes place in the real world,” Utrata said. “It will be a functioning laboratory for students to go out and do their thing within traditional bounds.”

The Society of Automotive Engineers, Women in Science and Engineering and the Study Abroad Center are a few ISU groups that already have shown interest and have been involved in the mall exhibits.

Admission for the museum will be about $2, and there may be annual family membership programs.

Initially, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

The museum currently has a display in the center of the mall, previewing some items that will be in the museum.

The final program of a seven-part interactive exploration titled “Kids are Grand” will be held Saturday at North Grand from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature science and technology exhibits, as well as the kids’ choice favorites from previous events.

The museum is looking for a director and one or two paid staff members, as well as volunteers. It soon will have an official phone number, but in the meantime anyone who would like to get involved can contact Utrata at [email protected] or 294-6095.