Junior League seeks host for first Orange County Children’s Museum site

The Junior League of Orange County, New York is looking for a municipality, developer or institution willing to donate or deeply discount space for the first Orange County Children’s Museum satellite, a move meant to put child-focused programming on the ground before a permanent museum opens.

The first site would be part of a four-location rollout across Orange County, a phased strategy the league says is designed to lead toward a centrally located museum later. The organization said the plan grew out of a feasibility process launched in 2025, followed by a community survey in the summer and focus-group registration in October, all meant to test demand for a dedicated place for interactive learning and family engagement.

The host site would need to be indoors, ADA-compliant and roughly 2,500 to 6,000 square feet, with free or nearby public parking. The target audience is children ages 0 to 12, and the museum setting would be closer to a public library or recreation center than a traditional exhibit hall.

Junior League of Orange County says it would run the satellite’s daily operations, including staffing, volunteers and programming. The host partner’s main obligation would be to provide the physical space, with a minimum commitment of three to five years. Proposals are due by May 22, 2026 at 5 p.m.

The league says the satellite could eventually draw 10,000 to 20,000 visitors a year, giving Orange County a family destination with countywide reach. That scale matters in a county where access to children’s cultural and educational spaces is uneven, and where the location of the first satellite will shape who can reach it easily by car, bus or on foot.

The project also reflects the league’s wider civic role. Junior League of Orange County says it was established in 1922 and is part of the Association of Junior Leagues International, a movement founded in 1901 in New York City by Mary Harriman. The local group says its current work centers on women’s and children’s health and wellness, and its president said the museum fits the organization’s mission and long-term impact for families across the community.