ROANOKE, Va. – A new children's museum is now open in downtown Roanoke.
Tuesday marks the grand opening of Kids Square at Center in the Square.
From the sandbox to the cars to the rock climbing wall, there's something for everyone from toddlers to 10-year-olds at Kids Square.
"it's very open and very friendly for creativeness," volunteer Grace Swanner said.
Swanner is volunteering with the kids and having a little fun along the way.
"I wish I would've had that when I was a kid growing up," Swanner said.
"The goal is education, developing into great citizens, citizens that are involved as they grow up," Center in the Square General Manager and President Jim Sears said.
Some may even figure out what they want to do with their lives in the hospital exam room.
"Do they want to be a nurse? Do they want to be a doctor?" Sears said.
Maybe they'll discover they want to be a dentist or even work for television news one day.
"I really believe that we are investing in the employees of tomorrow" Appalachian Power president Nick Akins said.
It's also about transforming downtown Roanoke.
"It's possible that 100,000 more people will come downtown and shop and buy produce and add to the economy," Sears said.
They created the entire space in just four months.
"You can see what has happened... They've raised over $2 million in a short period of time," donor Don Smith said.
The museum is named for Don Smith and his wife Barbara.
"We have 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and we have supported those children and their families and I’m just watching some of them here this morning. It is a great thing for the Valley," Smith said.
It’s a dream come true for Don and good news for the Star City.
"We didn't have anything like that. Now Roanoke has a museum," Smith said.
The new museum will also offer a reciprocal discount with the Mill Mountain Zoo.
Anyone who visits the museum and brings his or her receipt to the Mill Mountain Zoo will receive $1 off admission, and patrons of the zoo who visit the museum and bring their zoo receipt will receive $1 off admission.
Click here for more information on Kids Square.