Children's Museum Tucson is finalist for national award

Children’s Museum Tucson is among 30 finalists for a national award that recognizes institutions that offer innovative approaches to public service.

The museum, celebrating its 30th year, is a finalist for the 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, it was announced Tuesday in a news release.

It is the only institution in Arizona — and one of two children’s museums — to be a finalist, according to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The other children’s museum is Lynn Meadows Discovery Center for Children in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The award is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community, according to the institute.

The winners will be named later this spring, and representatives from the institutions will travel to Washington, D.C., to be honored in a White House ceremony, officials said.

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“The Children’s Museum Tucson has strived to be accessible to everyone and provide all children and their families a quality educational experience,” said Michael J. Luria, the museum’s executive director.

Children in Southern Arizona have access to the hands-on, play-based learning that focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The museum at 200 S. Sixth Ave. offers free events, reduced admission days and sponsored school tours, museum officials said.

In 2015, more than 34,000 people visited on free or reduced-admission days, representing an investment of nearly $240,000 into the community, said officials.

See a list of the finalists at www.imls.gov