Omaha Children’s Museum is currently in contract discussions with institutions, including Richmond Children’s Museum in Richmond, Virginia.
The traveling exhibit “Forever Forest” returned to Omaha Children’s Museum for another showing from February 5, 2022 – April 6, 2022. It was the museum’s headlining exhibit during this period and was on display in its special gallery. Over 61,000 visitors engaged with the exhibit, with a surge in attendance over the spring break period.
To create additional interest and excitement, the museum hired local environmental artist and designer Holly Lukasiewicz to create a custom installation. Her “Branch Cloud” installation created a canopy of branches, cuttings, and flowers from indigenous plants over the exhibit.
The museum refurbished the “Forever Forest” exhibit in several stages. Although many major refurbishment projects occurred while on display, guests never missed out on any of the components because the vendors completed their work when the museum was closed.
Through the generous support of the Nebraska Environmental Trust, Omaha Children’s Museum can continue to send “Forever Forest” across the country and reach thousands of families with its messages of conservation, sustainability, and appreciation for nature. After its stop in Omaha, “Forever Forest” was displayed at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, during the summer of 2022 and the River Legacy Nature Center in Arlington, Texas, in 2023. Its next confirmed stop will be the Midland County Centennial Library in Midland, Texas, in 2025. Omaha Children’s Museum is currently in contract discussions with institutions, including Richmond Children’s Museum in Richmond, Virginia.
Below are the partners who were part of the exhibit and exhibit refurbishment
- Holly Lukasiewicz, Omaha, NE – Visual artist and creator of the “Branch Cloud” installation that accompanied the “Forever Forest”exhibit when on display at Omaha Children’s Museum
- Heartland Scenic Studios, Omaha, NE – Original fabricator of the “Forever Forest” exhibit and lead vendor on the refurbishment project. HSS reengineered exhibit components that needed improvement and repaired damaged ones • AG Painting, Omaha, Nebraska – Painting and refinishing company. Repaired dents, and missing pieces in train care components and repainted with scuff-resistant paint.
- Nanonation, Lincoln, Nebraska – Interactive software company. Designed new software with animations for the train engine’s two digital interactives
- Capitol Exhibit Services, Inc., Manassas, VA – Exhibit fabricator. Designed and built a new train and transportation table with dimensional buildings and graphics.
Support from the Nebraska Environmental Trust has helped ensure the continued success of the “Forever Forest” exhibit and its mission to inspire families to value forests for their ability to help us live, work, and play sustainably. Between confirmed rentals and interested parties, the museum anticipates “Forever Forest”could serve approximately 125,000 visitors per year for the next five years.
The following quote from Wendy Scardino, director of marketing and communication for the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, in the Telegraph Herald, exemplifies the positive messaging surrounding the exhibit. “We hear a lot about climate change and the bad news,” she said. “But there are wonderful things happening. We like to focus our conservation messaging around those hopeful stories that give people motivation to do something themselves and to see that they can make a difference.”