The story began with a mother who refused to let go of a dream.

Lindsay Powell grew up in McMinnville, where her family has called home for generations. She loves this community - the waterfalls, the trails, and the way neighbors still show up for each other. She loves how the entire town seems to pause for the famous county fair, and 4th of July brings everyone together in the most perfect small-town celebration. There is so much beauty in Warren County.

Like many young adults, Lindsay left home to pursue a college education and build a career. Along the way, her career took she and her husband to Raleigh, NC. Raliegh is a wonderful place to raise a young family. It’s a city that is full of free museums, an affordable children’s museum, parks around every corner, and endless opportunities for young families to connect, learn, and play. At the time, She hardly gave those amenities a second thought. 

Then life brought her back home to McMinnville.

As a mother with a young child, she experienced firsthand the absence of family friendly activities in this the community. The kinds of experiences she had enjoyed in Raleigh were often an hour away. She found herself wishing there was something here. Something that would give local families a place to gather, play, and make memories together. The more she thought about it, the harder it became to imagine doing nothing. 

She talked about it constantly. She shared it with friends, family, and anyone willing to listen. She imagined what it could look like and how it could serve the community she loved. The more she talked about it, the more convinced she became that McMinnville deserved something special. 

Finally,  when her son was about two years old, her husband looked her in the eyes and said, “You have to do something about this, or you need to let it go.” 

She chose to do Something. And she didn’t do it alone. 

What began as one mother’s dream quickly became something much bigger. 

Because it turns out, Lindsay wasn’t the only who felt the absence of family-friendly activities in our community. 

Parents and Grandparents who have been making the same long drives for generations, are now coming together to create something wonderful for the next generation. Neighbors who believe McMinnville’s children deserve more, are rolling up their sleeves and helping make that vision a reality.

The McMinnville Children’s Museum is more than a building or a collection of exhibits. It is a community effort that is built by people who love this town and believe in investing in its future.

Today, The Museum is guided by a dedicated board of directors, each carrying their own reason for saying “yes” to this mission. Together, they show up, because they believe in what WE are building together. They are helping create a place where children can learn, explore, imagine, and grow.

Board of Directors

Lindsay Powell – Founder & President 

Lindsay Foos – Founder & Vice President & Volunteer Committee Chair

Kendra Matheney – Founder & Treasurer

Karen Young – Secretary

Kelsey Smith – Founder & Programming Director

Lindsay Adams – Event Committee Chair

Hanifah Barnes

Daniel Barnes

Kirsten Cunningham - Founder

Mark Harvey 

Jennifer Meredith

The Museum’s foundation was also shaped by the early support and belief of our Founding Legacy Members. John Adcock and Stevana Bouldin, whose encouragement, leadership, and generosity helped lay the groundwork for everything that followed.

This story may have started with one mother’s dream, but it continues because of a community that believes in its children.

 We are dedicated to providing a positive and nurturing environment to promote the education and development for the children of Warren County and surrounding communities. 

• Children are valued citizens with the right to developmentally appropriate and high-quality learning experiences. 
• Play is learning, and it is critical to the healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development of children.
• Family, culture, environment, and society are recognized as critical factors in all children’s lives to effectively serve them. 
• Pursuing equity and inclusion is a best practice that reflects a commitment to serving all children and families and advancing the growth of our field.

 Our Children’s Museum is committed to providing engaging, hands-on learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Through a dynamic mix of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, we aim to inspire children to explore, experiment, and problem-solve in a nurturing and inclusive environment. We believe in the power of play as a vital part of a child’s development and are dedicated to creating opportunities that support the social, emotional, and cognitive growth of every child, while honoring their unique backgrounds and experiences.  

 Since May of 2024, we have been building The McMinnville Children’s Museum from the ground up. We operate out of living rooms, borrowed storage space, the local library’s community rooms, and local business spared spaces. 

Inspite of our challenges we have:

- Earned our 501c3 nonprofit status in February 2023

- Placed over 560 Tinker Take-Out Kits in the hands of children and families in our community

- Served more than 400 families through programming, events, and workshops

We are real. We are growing. And we are just getting started. 

 The families in our community work hard. They deserve to spend quality time with their children without packing a lunchbox, burning a tank of gas, and spending three hours on the road to give their kids a chance of wonder. 

These experiences should exist here. In McMinnville, TN.

We are going to build a state-of-the-art STEAM discovery center. A place filled with hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics experiences. A place where children of all ages can jump out of the textbook and into real world. We envision a place with science exhibits, an art center, a splash pad, a climbing playground where children of every ability can explore, create, and play. 

A place for this generation and generations to come.

We are under contract to purchase our future home at 619 Morrison St, McMinnville, TN.

The McGee Family has believed in our mission enough to hold this property for us, giving us the time needed to complete this purchase. This is a rare and time-sensitive opportunity. One that we cannot afford to miss.

We need to raise $350,000 to cover the property purchase, closing costs, and initial site renderings. Once this property is ours, we can stand on our own two feet and begin the real work of building something this community will be proud of. 

This campaign is the foundation (literally) of everything that comes next. 

How Can You Help?

Every dollar raised goes directly towards securing this property. 

Digital Donations: Make an immediate impact by donating online using your credit card or digital payment. You can also set up a monthly recurring gift online, ensuring your impact is the gift that keeps on giving. https://givebutter.com/themcm_BuildingEndowment

Cash: The McMinnville Children's Museum accepts cash or checks. The simplest form of giving.

Pledge: Want to make a bigger gift and spread the payment out over the next year? Make a pledge and set your own payment schedule. 

Contact TheMCmuseum@gmail.com with any questions.