Exhibits
At the museum, we believe that all play leads to learning. We are the home to 14 exhibit rooms that provide children with the opportunity to discover, explore, grow and learn through active, hands-on experiences—an environment that promotes strong social connections and bonds, and a love for learning.
First Floor Exhibits
Violet’s Music Room is based upon a children’s book titled Violet’s Music, written by Angela Johnson and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beithby. Special permission from the author was granted to the museum allowing us to create a fun and interactive exhibit room focused on music and movement.
In the story, Violet grows up exploring musical instruments, music created by sounds in the environment and the world around her. Through this journey, she learns percussion, rhythms, beats, and patterns of music, and begins to understand how beautiful music can truly be. The murals are inspired by the book making the exhibit come to life with vibrant colors and sounds.
The murals in this exhibit were created by art students at Bristol Community College.
This exhibit room is filled with bright colors and shapes that are explored through the use of light boards, light boxes, and a marble light wall. Materials and manipulatives are provided for children to increase their sensory development. Children are encouraged to create patterns of light, colors, and shapes, and then discuss their observations with their family members which spark creativity, learning and fun!
This exhibit brings trains, planes, trucks, automobiles, boats, and other forms of transportation to life. Children use toys and other materials to role play real-life scenarios and explore how people move around in the world. The Transportation Station provides children with hands-on experience, building their knowledge of careers in this arena. They can act out being a pilot, engineer, conductor, boat captain, bus or truck driver, or the mechanic who repairs these different types of vehicles.
The mural in this room was created by Rochelle and Ethan Pettenati.
This exhibit room is designed to have children discover the wonderful world of water. Experimenting with water provides children with the opportunity to develop their sensory and fine motor skills by using materials to dump, fill, pour water, and of course…splash! This room has an “under the sea” theme that is represented in the decor, and artwork, including tiles hand painted by museum patrons. The children are also exposed to aquatic animals, plants, and other objects found in the various bodies of water. Families are encouraged to visit Fall River’s waterfront parks and attractions to further enhance this experience.
One of the museum’s most visited exhibits, The Dinosaur Room transports children and families back in time to the Prehistoric Era—the time when these amazing creatures roamed the earth. Caves, lava pits, and dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes dwell in this room, where children are able to become archaeologists, paleontologists, rock climbers, and explore the terrain riding in an expedition jeep to collect artifacts related to the era. Many types of dinosaurs are represented on the walls to encourage the children to identify and name them, with the assistance of their grown-ups.
The mural in this room was created by Greg Pennisten and sculptures were created by art students at Bristol Community College.
In our newest exhibit, the Forest Adventure Room, the children are transported deep inside the forest, where they have the opportunity to explore and learn about the animals and creatures that make their homes in the great outdoors. In this hands-on, experiential exhibit, children discover camping in a tent, cooking outdoors, and developing a keen sense of nature and science. Through role-play, children become campers, forest rangers, loggers, and firefighters. The murals and artwork in this room create the illusion that you are truly spending time in the forest!
The murals and artwork in this room were created by Erika Johnson.
Another recently added exhibit is the Reading Nook. This room provides children with the opportunity to develop a love for literature and reading with their families. The space is equipped with soft and comfortable furniture, and plush carpeting for children to snuggle with their grown-ups as they explore the wonderful world of books. It also provides children with time to just rest and relax away from the noise and commotion of the other exhibit rooms. This room is dedicated to the memory Lillian Mitchell, by her family and friends.
The artwork in this was created by Holli Faria.
In this room, children are provided with various media to create works of art. Materials such as paper, markers, crayons, scissors, tape, glue sticks, cardboard, and many other items are provided so children can discover the artist within themselves. Children are provided with the opportunity to create works of art, including sculpture. This room supports the development of creative expression, fine-motor skills, self-concept, and self-esteem, and also helps children develop an understanding and love of the visual arts. All creations are taken home, so the children can show their families and friends their unique creations.
Second Floor Exhibits
The museum’s largest exhibit room is home to The Outer Space Exhibit which features an outdoor play structure…inside! This structure has many colored slides, rope tunnels, and moon craters for children to develop their gross-motor, balance, and coordination skills—all while they are pretending to be astronauts and space explorers. This exhibit also contains outer space astronaut bunks and a remote control station all for a fun and interactive experience. Colorful lighting illuminates the ceiling to brighten the galaxy and bring this exhibit to life. The room is also decorated with colorful tiles that are hand painted by children and families that truly enhance the exhibit. Come check it out. We are sure you’ll have a BLAST!
The Astro Tot exhibit room, adjacent to the Outer Space Exhibit, was designed to be used by infants and toddlers. The room is furnished with soft colorful foam blocks and climbing equipment, as well as cushioned floor mats to ensure a fun and safe experience. The space supports the gross-motor and sensory development of these young children, and the manipulatives provided in this room enhance fine-motor development as well. A large wall mirror is located in this room to foster self-concept and awareness.
The mural in this room was created by Kevin Lamoureux.
This exhibit room, which is adjacent to the Outer Space Exhibit, was created to be used by older children. The Astro Activities Room is one of the only spaces in the museum that is regularly changing to stimulate a sense of curiosity in children. Materials and equipment are rotated to support a wide range of developmental milestones, and this room always has a connection to outer space and explorers of the galaxy.
This exhibit area was designed to provide children with the opportunity to develop a sense of health, wellness, and nutrition. Fashioned as a 1950’s diner, children role play buying healthy food and then prepare it to eat. Whether acting as a buyer, chef, waitstaff, hostess, or dishwasher, the children learn the importance of running and working in a restaurant or being a customer.
This exhibit area was named in memory of Richard Pires, who was a devoted supporter of the museum.
This exhibit room provides children with the understanding of how important it is for them and their pets to go to the doctor. Physical health and nutrition of both children and animals are important and can be explored in The Corner Clinic. In this hands-on “clinic,” children are provided the opportunity to role play as a doctor, nurse, or veterinarian, by giving checkups using tools and equipment that are commonly present in real life medical offices. Children can also act as a receptionist by answering the phone, booking appointments, and rescheduling patients as they are performed in a real doctor’s office!
The murals in this exhibit were created by Kevin Lamoureux.
This exhibit is designed to be a fun and interactive experience for children and families. In a semi-darkened room, gross-motor games are projected on the floor, with sound, that require children to problem solve their way through some of the games, or just have fun playing a piano with their feet. This room is one of the most popular in the museum, because the children use their brain power to coordinate large muscle movements, such as jumping, hopping, stomping, kicking, and so much more.
Additional Spaces
This room is for families to enjoy their snacks and lunch. It also allows participants who visit the museum on a fieldtrip a space to enjoy their lunches. Just a reminder that the museum adheres to a nut-free policy.
Birthday Parties celebrated at the museum take place here and are always such a big hit. For more information regarding scheduling a Birthday Party at the museum, please click here.
Our playground is open during museum hours. This playground provides many opportunities for large muscle movement, as well as the opportunity to explore creative arts in the form of music. Special features of the playground include a chime wall, rainmaker wheels, bongo drums, musical flower stands, a xylophone and so much more. Additionally, language and literacy development are supported with the incorporation of flower chalkboards, as well as a Story Walk Area.
The Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum is a not-for-profit, all volunteer, educational and historical organization that opened in April 1986. The mission of the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Museum is to tell the story of Fall River’s rich railroad heritage through its educational exhibits and operation of our model train layout. The museum concept is more than artifacts. It is also an educational tool for teaching children about part of our transportation system and safety around trains.
