Boca Raton Children's Museum building to resemble early pioneer house: Boca museum building patterned after early pioneer house

Nov 30, 2008 (Sun Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- IMAX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The 19th century home of a city pioneer is the inspiration for the design of a building to be constructed soon at the Boca Raton Click here for restaurant inspection reports Children's Museum.

The museum expects to break ground early next year on the Rickards House, a two-story structure to feature modern amenities and environmentally friendly materials and fixtures that will house humanities and music programs for children.

Completion of the building is slated for July.

The original Rickards House was built on the east side of the intracoastal south of the present-day Palmetto Park Bridge in about 1897. It was named after Capt. Thomas Moore Rickards, widely considered to be the city's first white pioneer settler.

"It was typical of what they call 'cracker architecture,' with a large veranda wood frame, wood siding, and big porches and big windows to catch the southern breezes," said Susan Gillis, curator of the Boca Raton Historical Society. "It was the prevailing architecture of the time for a pioneer cottage-type place."

From its front facing Crawford Boulevard, the new building will look similar to the original house, said Poppi Mercier, the museum's executive director.

Changes to the original design have been planned for the entrance. Upon entering, guests will find "Jason's Music Hall." The hall will be an in-the-round-style area for recitals and musical performances that will include a garage band-style recording studio, Mercier said.

The museum campus presently includes two buildings with historical significance, including its main building Singing Pines, which carries an official city historical designation, Gillis said.

When a plan to move the historic Raulerson House (located just southwest of Boca Raton Elementary School) to the property was shelved, museum officials researched similar buildings with assistance from the historical society.

"We chose this house because it fit within the same architectural age and structure of the houses that were already on the property," Mercier said.

The house will cost about $330,000 to build, according to documents filed with the city. The museum obtained the funds through a Palm Beach County Recreation and Cultural Facilities Bond, which will cover the entire construction cost, Mercier said.

The City Council on Nov. 12 unanimously approved an agreement to secure the bond between Palm Beach County and the museum. Because the museum leases its land from Boca Raton, the city was required to approve the agreement, Mercier said.

The Rickards House is one of several museum expansion initiatives. Future plans call for a science and technology building with a time machine theme so children can learn about history and scientific concepts. The building is expected to include an IMAX theater, an activities area, a podcasting production area, and an interactive, simulated "flight deck," Mercier said.

The museum estimates its planned construction projects will cost about $3 million, Mercier said. To finance its growth, it has established a capital campaign.

The museum offers traveling programs it takes to schools and other interested groups. Its permanent exhibits include the popular miniature grocery store that encourages healthy eating and a bank with a working vault to which children obtain a key to enter, solve math problems and obtain a prize.

"But we don't have a working ATM. We're not going there," Mercier said with a chuckle.

Those interested in donating to the museum's capital campaign can call Mercier at 561-368-6875.

To see more of the Sun Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index