ANA Money Museum Offers Free Classes for Children
Families can spend time exploring a “hidden gem” of Colorado Springs – the Money Museum – at no charge, by participating in “Kids Zone” classes. Held almost every third Saturday of the month, Kids Zone programs provide fun activities and interactive exhibits for children to pick up basic and advanced concepts related to money.
Teaching kids about money the way they learn best: by doing and playing.
The classes teach children about history, geography, trade, art, world cultures and more. Parents/guardians accompanying their kids to a class can explore the Money Museum for free.
Located at 818 N. Cascade Avenue next door to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, the Money Museum is America’s largest museum dedicated to numismatics. The museum includes exhibits in three main galleries, where visitors can find spectacular rarities and learn about the history of our nation and the world as seen through money.
Free Kids Zone classes are available to kids ages 4-12 and include the following:
- May 20: Coin Carving I – Learn about the fascinating world of Hobo Nickels and their special place within numismatics and American history. This class will cover their purpose, review various carvers’ works, and then participants will learn how to create their own hobo nickel by “engraving” one from a scratch art design.
- August 19: Coin Carving II – Coins have been modified in many ways to allow us to carry the thoughts and hopes of loved ones, especially in times of war or hardship. The artistically inclined will enjoy learning the intricate art of designing love tokens in this class.
- September 16: Designing Paper Money Part I – A banknote is a lot like a work of art with many security features. This class will review the aspects needed to make money. Several techniques are used to design a bill and they’ll be taught by “engraving” scratch art printing plates.
- October 21: Designing Paper Money Part II – This class will teach about the mysterious mixture of paper money and some of the secrets used to make U.S. currency. Then, participants will make their own homemade blend of paper from scratch.
- November 18: Economics and Money Museum Tour – Why do some items cost more than others? Do you know how to make the right decisions with money? What is hyperinflation? This class will help answer some of the trickier questions about making, saving, and spending money. Afterward, a tour will be given of some of the newer exhibits in the Money Museum.
Parents/guardians must be present at all times in the Money Museum while children are attending a Kids Zone class. To sign up or for more information, visit the Money Museum’s website or contact Sam Gelberd via email.
For further information, visit the ANA website.
