Proposal puts children’s museum in former Sears store

A plan that's in its early stages would bring a children's museum to a former Sears store at Mounds Mall in Anderson.

The Herald Bulletin reports ideas for the museum were proposed at a Sunday event by Paul McClish, who is running for the Democratic nomination in Anderson's mayoral election, and Jesse Wilkerson, an architect and leasing specialist.

"It's something that Anderson needs for the youth," McClish said. "We don't have anything in this town that the youth can do."

The museum would initially consist of a handful of exhibits with room to expand. Costs have not been detailed, but Wilkerson says projects similar in size can easily reach $1 million to $2 million.

"I think it's better if we plant seeds and let those seeds grow into their own tree," McClish said. "So we identified something that we think is good. We want to plant a seed there and see how it grows."

Themes for exhibits could include aviation, firefighting and international cuisine.

Planners say they're seeking not-for-profit status and are looking at funding the project through grants and financing from local businesses. They'd also need to do a feasibility study and form a board of directors.

"At this time, what we're doing is running through a number of options," Wilkerson said. "We see it fit for a mall, we see it as a fit for the community, so we're still brainstorming. We're still trying to figure out what this can be, what the potential is."