Nine-year-old Alaina Abood is considering becoming a veterinarian when she grows up.
She also loves pretending to be a doctor.
So she was right at home Friday morning at the grand opening of the new Akron Children’s Museum, which happens to have interactive exhibits for both budding animal and people doctors.
“I love it,” said Alaina, who came with her mom, Carol Abood of Akron. “I like all of the exhibits.”
The nonprofit museum, which has been years in the making, opened to the public Friday morning for the first time. Located in city-owned space at Lock 3 Park downtown, the museum is packed with interactive exhibits for children up to age 12.
The veterinary and doctor’s areas, for example, feature all the tools needed for inquisitive kids: stuffed animals in cages, blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, X-rays, baby dolls, examining tables and surgical masks.
Other exhibits include a giant bird’s nest, a farmer’s market, large trees with apples stuck on them with Velcro, hills where kids can race cars, an arts and crafts station, a theater where kids can dress up, monkey bars and giant blocks.
“It’s awesome,” said Job Perry of Akron, who came with his wife, Heidi, and their two children, Josiah, 6, and Landon, 3. “They’ve got so much cute stuff in here.”
Josiah’s favorite exhibit was “Quake, Rattle & Roll,” where kids can build towers with wooden blocks and then hit a button that creates an earthquake that knocks them down.
The exhibits — which cover everything from art to math to science — are designed to be mentally and physically stimulating for kids. Soon, the kids will be handed pedometers so they can see how many steps they’ve taken, with their names and the results appearing on video screens.
The museum was the brainchild of local parents Ryan and Betsy Hartschuh, who stopped by the Greensboro Children’s Museum in North Carolina years ago and decided that they wanted to replicate it in Akron.
“I just love seeing how many families are here together, laughing and enjoying it,” Betsy Hartschuh said.
The Hartschuhs figured they had a winning concept in Akron after they organized a temporary, pop-up museum last winter in the same space and nearly 10,000 people visited.
Families spent an average of 2½ hours playing there. The amount of time will likely increase with the permanent museum, Betsy Hartschuh said.
The museum already has sold about 150 memberships.
It also has received significant help from the corporate community. Akron Children’s Hospital, National Carpet Mill Outlet, Ernst & Young, Acme Fresh Market and GOJO Industries are among the companies that have sponsored exhibits or donated materials.
“It’s hard to find a lot to do for the kids, particularly in the colder temperatures,” said Ebony Yeboah of Akron, a museum board member who brought her children Emma, 4, and David, 3.
“This was something I was really passionate about and wanted to get involved with. I’m really excited to see that it’s opened as an indoor activity.”
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .