IMLS National Medal

2013 was a very big year for Boston Children’s Museum (BCM). Not only was it the 100th anniversary of the founding of Boston Children’s Museum but also the year that BCM was awarded the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Medal, the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums. The award was presented to our President & CEO, Carole Charnow, and our former Teen Ambassador, Tayquan Pomare-Taylor by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

Thanks to staff and board planning, numerous events commemorated these momentous occasions.  BCM hosted an early childhood education conference, held at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston.  Leaders in the field paid tribute to how BCM serves as a catalyst, innovator, partner, and resource for civic, educational, business, and community organizations. Over the spectacular indoor/outdoor centennial weekend, Boston Children’s Chorus presented a specially commissioned song in honor of the occasion entitled, I Am a River of Hope by composer Jim Papoulis. The family and community fun featured a very large cake created as a replica of the Museum’s building which was happily consumed by visitors. This was in addition to a centennial exhibit and e-book, the construction of two large inflatables (a 30-foot BCM birthday cake and a 10-foot Hood Milk Bottle) that toured Boston parks throughout the summer, and a Centennial Gala, that raised $1M for Museum access programs.

The IMLS National Medal was truly a great honor for BCM, and to be celebrated in conjunction with the 100th anniversary made the year particularly meaningful. This honor recognized BCM’s role locally, regionally, and nationally for its extraordinary community service and access for all families. Through innovative exhibits, programs, and community outreach, BCM was acknowledged for its substantive contributions to the field of informal early childhood education.