To embrace educational growth and community development, the City of Knoxville has floated a new lease proposal for Muse Knoxville, enabling the children's science museum to expand its footprint significantly. Muse Knoxville, buoyed by robust donor backing, is poised to transform the historic Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park into its new home, a shift that would see its space balloon from a modest 10,000 square feet to an expansive nearly 57,000 square feet. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a world-class, all-ages science museum right here in Knoxville – one that is hands-on, play-based, and designed with our community’s voice at the center," Allison Comer, President & CEO of Muse Knoxville, told the City of Knoxville.
The enhanced museum will not only cater to more wide-eyed learners but also promises a slate of immersive exhibit zones spanning robotics, energy, and beyond. All this thanks partly to generous donors such as the Boyd Foundation and Clayton Family Foundation—the latter chipping in a "transformational $25 million gift," as per Comer's acknowledgment. These changes are critical when visitors are often relegated to a waitlist due to current space limitations. The museum has seen nearly 140,000 visitors from around the globe in the past year, clearly illustrating the pressing need for expansion.
Mayor Indya Kincannon touts the plan as a dual victory for Knoxville. "The Jacob Building sits next door to Muse Knoxville's current location in Chilhowee Park and is a natural fit for their vision," Kincannon said, per the City of Knoxville. The Mayor further emphasized the project's synergy with the city's rejuvenation efforts along the Magnolia corridor, heralding it as East Knoxville's time to shine."
