Expansion
Scott Family Amazeum Opens 11,850-Square-Foot Early Learning Advancement Center in Bentonville
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- The Scott Family Amazeum opened an 11,850-square-foot Early Learning Advancement Center inside The Hangout on Saturday.
- The center serves children from birth through age 6 and their caregivers, replacing Studio Grow, which closed at 5 p.m. on November 6.
- Talk Business & Politics reported the Amazeum opened a $25 million expansion on November 5, with the project raising over $18 million.
The Scott Family Amazeum opened an 11,850-square-foot Early Learning Advancement Center inside The Hangout in Bentonville on Saturday, according to Yahoo. The nonprofit children's museum, founded in 2015, operates roughly 50,000 square feet of hands-on STEAM exhibits plus a satellite location at XNA airport and serves families across Northwest Arkansas.
Inside the Early Learning Advancement Center
The new space is designed for children from birth through age 6 and the adults who learn alongside them, with interactive experiences focused on curiosity, creativity, confidence and discovery. It replaces Studio Grow, which permanently closed at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 6.
"Studio Grow has been a meaningful part of the Amazeum experience for so many families, and we are grateful for everything that has happened within that space," said Rachel Keene, senior manager of Early Learning Initiatives.
Keene added that the new center lets the museum carry that work forward "in a larger, more intentional environment created specifically for young children and their caregivers." The center is grounded in research on how young children develop through hands-on, playful experiences, and is designed to draw caregivers into their children's learning.
The Early Learning Advancement Center sits within The Hangout, which also includes Headwaters Café and Lounge, flexible gathering spaces available for rent and outdoor areas for play and exploration. Talk Business & Politics reported that the Amazeum opened a $25 million expansion on November 5, that the project raised over $18 million and that the museum plans to complete another outdoor play area.
Amazeum Expansion and Airport Play Space Records
According to akta.pro company records, the Amazeum's capital campaign expansion will add approximately 34,740 square feet of new construction including The Hangout, Early Learning Advancement Center, The Porch and The Backyard. The same records list a 2023-08 grant of $2 million led by Walmart, and a June 2026 collaboration with Northwest Arkansas National Airport on a $250,000 play space.
Outdoor Play Area Still to Come
Talk Business & Politics reported that the Amazeum plans to complete another outdoor play area following the November 5 opening of the $25 million expansion.