Bend Children’s Museum Plans 2027 Opening

The Children’s Museum of Central Oregon has secured an 8,000-square-foot building in Bend’s Central District and is rebranding as Ruckus: A Children’s Science Museum. After two years bringing hands-on STEAM activities to communities through mobile pop-ups, the nonprofit plans to create indoor and outdoor exhibits exploring topics such as geology, forests, physics, engineering and local industries. It hopes to open in 2027, though no date is set, and is fundraising $3 million for exhibits and renovations. Organizers say a permanent museum would address the lack of a dedicated children’s or science museum in the region.