As part of its reopening, the DuPage Children’s Museum is offering some new attractions.

This may be one of the ultimate examples of transforming lemons are into lemonades.

The DuPage Children’s Museum, shut down in January after a catastrophic flood, officially reopened last week in its old home near the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe commuter rail station in Naperville.

While it has a familiar outside look, Children’s Museum staffers turned misfortune into an opportunity to rethink and recreate exhibits as the popular museum settles back into its longtime home.

The museum had a soft opening during the week with VIP events and a members’ Sneak Peak before throwing the doors back open on Saturday for the public

“It’s been quiet, the sound of kids, we missed it,” said Hiroki Ogawa, the museum’s visitors services manager and one of the longest serving museum employees. “Just to see the kids running and playing and crying when they’re at the door and they don’t want to leave.

“We are back.”

The DuPage Children’s Museum is reopening in downtown Naperville.  The museum has been operating for 28 years.

Saturday’s visitors found some old favorites while other exhibits have been enhanced and expanded while other ideas were transformed into brand new hands-on activities likely become popular with both kids and parents.

Housed in a 50,000-square-foot onetime lumber store, the museum is now it its 28th year of operation. In pre-flood years, it drew more than 300,000 annual visitors.

A broken pipe in an upstairs room last winter resulted in flooding throughout the entire building and closure to dry out, clean up and rebuild.

“I think when we all walked in that first day it was pretty devastating,” Ogawa said. “But it gave us the opportunity to really reimagine the museum and rebuild it.”

During the shutdown, a smaller scale satellite museum operated at the Fox Valley Mall in Aurora until it closed on Sept. 7.

Museum officials say the museum incorporated suggestions from staffers, supporters and the general public.

The museum suffered $3 million in damages and lost revenues, made up by insurance, fundraising, careful budgeting and with a new strategic plan to guide it.

A colorful, completely redesigned lobby greets visitors and the adjacent The Explorer Store offers unique toys for learning. A second-floor volunteer center is named for former Naperville Mayor George Pradel.

The staff at the DuPage Children’s Museum has been working to reopen museum since it closed from flooding in January.

Among current attractions include:

• Neighborhood areas exploring creative connections, including Creativity Connections, Make it Move and Build it with familiar and new features;
• A new Good Show Gallery features children’s art work and space for party rentals;
• The Studio, a space for creativity and curiosity;
• M.A.R.T. Cafe, offering healthy, high-quality food;
• Math Playground, a temporary one-year exhibit;
• Program Rooms and School Labs and a resting place for parents.

The museum opens daily at 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults and children, $10 for seniors.

More information is available on the museum’s website (www.dupagechildrens.org) or by calling (630) 637-8000.

— Reimagined, restored children’s museum reopens in Naperville —